April 15, 2017
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Freshman right-hander Davis Daniel pitched a career-best eight shutout innings as No. 10 Auburn baseball took the series over Tennessee with a 8-1 win Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
"We had some really good at-bats once we got the lead," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "We used our [bullpen] arms on Thursday and they used theirs yesterday. We kind of out-lasted them. We played a well-rounded game. I think Davis Daniel's eight innings, really that's as good of a start as we've had this year. He's been money for us on a couple of Sundays, a couple of game threes. He was special today. The last couple of innings it was shove the ball in the strike zone for routine outs.
"Stellar defense. The defense was great. The at-bats were tremendous and Davis Daniel was as good as we've had this year."
Daniel (3-2) eclipsed his previous career mark of six innings. He allowed one three hits and struck out five on 103 pitches. Daniel needed just 53 pitches to complete the third through eighth innings after throwing 48 in the first two frames. He induced 12 ground ball outs.
Auburn (27-11, 10-5 SEC) scored first capitalizing on a lead-off single in the fourth by Jonah Todd. Jay Estes followed with a double and after the left fielder bobbled the ball Todd sprinted home and Estes glided to third. Daniel Robert followed with a RBI single through the right side for a 2-0 lead.
Todd tied his career high with four hits, one RBI and scored twice. Estes had two hits and tied his career high with three runs scored.
Bo Decker hit his first career homer, a solo shot, in the fifth. Conor Davis followed with a two-out RBI single as Auburn widened its lead to 4-0.
The Tigers opened up a 7-0 lead in the seventh on a 3-run homer by Dylan Ingram, his third of the season. It plated Todd and Estes. A RBI single by Todd in the eighth made it 8-0.
Tennessee (18-15, 4-11 SEC) got on the board in the ninth on a solo homer off reliever Ryan Watson.
Vols starter Zach Warren (2-4) allowed four runs with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Tennessee used five relievers in the game.
Auburn starting pitchers Casey Mize, Keegan Thompson and Daniel allowed only one earned run in 20 combined innings in the Tennessee series.
Auburn wraps up its eight-game road trip Tuesday at Kennesaw State. First pitch is set for 5 pm CT on ESPN3/WatchESPN.