May 6, 2016
Jackson Burgreen has reached base in 15-straight games. (Auburn Photo)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Jackson Burgreen reached base twice and drove in a run, but Auburn baseball fell to Alabama 6-2 on Friday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
"We only had four hits tonight, but we had two really good doubles back-to-back by [Niko] Buentello and [Jackson] Burgreen," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "We wound up getting it to 3-2, but I think the difference in the ball game was [Matt] Foster out of their bullpen. We take pride in being able to want a fastball and get a fastball, but we didn't do much with it. I tip my hat to him. Andrew Mitchell did a good job for us for a period of time, then Daniel Sprinkle finished. I thought Foster was the difference in the game."
Burgreen walked in the third inning to extend his reached base streak to a career-best 15 games. He added a run-scoring double in the fifth inning for his 14th RBI of the season.
Daniel Sprinkle pitched the final 1.2 innings for the Tigers. He has allowed just one run in his last 8.0 relief innings.
Matt Foster struck out seven in 3.1 innings of relief for the Crimson Tide to earn his second save of the season.
Alabama (26-20, 11-11) took a 3-0 lead in the third with three runs off reliever Gabe Klobosits (L, 2-5).
Auburn starter Cole Lipscomb was lifted after just two innings due to fatigue. Andrew Mitchell gave Auburn 4.1 innings out of the bullpen with three runs allowed on five hits with three strikeouts.
The Tigers (20-25, 7-15) scored a pair in the fifth on Burgreen's RBI double that drove home Niko Buentello and a run coming across following a throwing error to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Buentello reached to start the inning on his 11th double of the season.
Alabama scored three runs over the sixth and seventh innings to widen its lead to 6-2.
Will Haynie had two hits including a solo homer. Chandler Taylor had two hits and two RBI.
Cody Nulph was hit by a pitch in the fifth to extend his career best reached-base streak to 11 games.
Geoff Bramblett improved to 4-3 on the season. He allowed one earned in 5.2 innings pitched with seven strikeouts.
Auburn and Alabama continue the series on Saturday at 6 pm.