March 24, 2017
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Daniel Robert delivered the game-winning hit and pitched 1.1 innings for his first collegiate victory as No. 16 Auburn baseball battled back for a 2-1 win over Georgia Friday at Foley Field.
"I'm as happy with this win as any this season," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "We couldn't get anything going. It's so easy to defend pop ups and strikeouts. I give Gist all the credit. We struggled to have good at-bats."
The victory is Auburn's ninth consecutive and improved the Tigers to 19-5 overall and 4-0 in the SEC. It marks the first 4-0 start to SEC play in 41 years (1976).
Luke Jarvis tripled to start the eighth and tied the game on an error by UGA catcher Austin Biggar. After a strikeout and an intentional walk to Jay Estes, Robert plated Will Holland on a RBI single to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
On the mound, the Hoover, Ala.-native Robert (1-0) got a key strikeout in the seventh to end a threat, then came back out with a scoreless eighth. He struck out three for the game.
Cole Lipscomb pitched the ninth for his fifth save, the most for an Auburn pitcher since Terrance Dedrick had 10 in 2013.
Georgia (9-14, 0-4 SEC) took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning for the only scoring until the Tigers' eighth-inning rally.
Auburn starter Keegan Thompson was lifted as a precaution after only four innings pitched and 49 pitches. He struck out three with three hits allowed and no walks.
Relievers Ryan Watson, Calvin Coker, Corey Herndon, Robert and Lipscomb combined to pitch five innings and allow just one run.
Jarvis had two hits and his team-leading fourth stolen base. Jonah Todd added two hits.
Andrew Gist pitched seven-plus innings for UGA and allowed one unearned run. He struck out a career-best seven with only four hits allowed. Kevin Smith took the loss to drop to 1-3.
Keegan McGovern and Michael Curry both had two hits for the Bulldogs.
Auburn and Georgia continue the series Saturday at 1 pm CT.