May 21, 2016
Anfernee Grier hit two home runs on Saturday at Vanderbilt. (Auburn Photo)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Anfernee Grier hit two homers and Casey Mize tied his SEC high with seven strikeouts, but Auburn fell 4-3 to No. 12 Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field on the final day of the regular season.
"Anfernee had a great day and one of the top, special arms in our league," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "He hit two home runs and was really the reason they went to the bullpen when they did. Casey Mize just shows you what he can be and gives you so much hope for the future.
"For all the seniors I just thank them for what they did. This was not the year any of us wanted, but I know they are going to be part of something special as we rebrand Auburn baseball and get this program to where we want it to be. Special thanks to our fans and the people that have hung with us. We've got to keep fighting hard to get this program where it needs to be and we will do it."
Auburn (23-33, 8-22) took a 1-0 lead in the third on Anfernee Grier's 11th home run of the season. His second homer of the day, and No. 12 of the year, cut the Tiger deficit to 3-2 in the fifth inning.
Grier reached base four times including three hits and was the first Auburn player to homer twice in a game in either SEC or non-conference play since 2013.
Mize pitched 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts. He allowed four runs and dropped to 2-5 on the season.
The Commodores (41-15, 18-12) rallied for three runs on four hits in the fourth inning and a 3-1 lead.
Vandy widened its lead to 4-2 on a sac fly in the sixth. Cody Nulph's RBI single made it 4-3 in the eighth.
Melvin Gray added three hits.
Kyle Wright improved to 8-3 for the Dores. He struck out nine in 6.0 innings and allowed two runs on five hits.
Bryan Reynolds had two hits and scored twice. Four different Vanderbilt hitters drove in runs.
Andrew Mitchell struck out two in two perfect innings of relief.