Feb. 21, 2015
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AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn baseball took both games of a doubleheader with Radford on Saturday securing a 4-3 win in 10 innings followed by a 6-1 victory in the second game at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers (5-2) go for the series sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be available on SECN+ with Jeff Shearer and Mark Fuller calling the action.
GAME ONE: Daniel Robert laced a walk-off single back through to middle to score Anfernee Grier as Auburn baseball completed the late-inning comeback for the 3-2 victory in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Plainsman Park.
After falling behind 2-0 after four innings, Auburn battled back scoring all three of its runs in the seventh inning and later.
The Tigers cut their deficit in half in the seventh inning when JJ Shaffer came around to score after a single by Daniel Robert and an error by Radford centerfielder Trevor Riggs. Shaffer had pinch hit for Bo Decker and singled in the infield to reach base.
Auburn tied the game at two in the bottom of the ninth in dramatic fashion as Blake Logan hit a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Shaffer. Shaffer got on base after he was hit by a pitch, then moved to second on a single by another pinch hitter, Sam Gillikin. Following a sacrifice bunt by Robert, Logan delivered his game-tying sac fly.
In the 10th, Grier singled, then Ebert and Gillikin walked to load the bases and set the stage for Robert's winning hit.
Auburn got three great outings in the first game from its pitching staff as Trey Wingenter posted a quality start with a career-best 6.2 innings pitched while scattering five hits and allowing two runs (one earned). He struck out four.
Wingenter was backed up by sophomore Will Thompson (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) and Dalton Rentz out of the bullpen. Rentz (1-0) earned his first career victory after tossing 2.1 innings with five strike outs and no walks.
Michael Boyle (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) did not factor into the decision for Radford. Daniel Bridgeman was charged with the loss after allowing the winning run to reach.
Grier finished the game 3-for-4 and Robert added two hits in the first game.
GAME TWO: Senior RHP Rocky McCord threw a career-high seven innings and struck out a career-best 10 batters as he cruised to a 6-1 win over Radford on Saturday at Plainsman Park.
His 10 strikeouts are the most for an Auburn pitcher since Dillon Ortman struck out 11 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on February 21, 2014. It was the most for McCord (1-0) since he struck out eight against Brown on March 10, 2013.
Radford (2-3) jumped on top 1-0 in the fourth inning when Shane Johnsonbaugh doubled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a passed ball, and ultimately scored on a RBI single by Josh Reavis.
Auburn came back in the bottom half of the fourth and tied the game on a bases loaded passed ball by Radford catcher Jordan Taylor.
The Tigers (5-2) chased Radford starter Dylan Nelson (4.1 IP, 4 H, 4 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 K) in the fifth inning after a solo home run by Cody Nulph, an error that led to Anfernee Grier scoring and Daniel Robert's triple to deep left centerfield that scored Jordan Ebert and gave Auburn a 4-1 lead.
Still in the fifth, Auburn tacked on another run to push its lead to 5-1 as Robert scored from third on a RBI single by JJ Shaffer.
Grier stretched his hitting streak to nine games with a RBI single in the sixth inning that widened Auburn's lead to 6-1.
Izaac Yarbrough pitched the final two innings to close out the victory. He did not allow a hit and struck out three.