04/11/06–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USA
COMES UP ONE RUN SHORT IN 3-2 LOSS TO AUBURN TUESDAY
CONTACT:
Kevin Sytko
Box
Score
MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama
tried to muster some last inning heroics, but came up one run short,
in a 3-2 loss to Auburn, Tuesday night at Stanky Field. Clarence
Nicely dominated the Jags over six and one third innings work, fanning
eight.
Eric Gonzalez
took the loss for USA. He went three innings, giving up just three
runs (two earned). In a game that the Jags planned to use more than
a few pitchers, Gonzalez, Zach Piccola, Chase Christianson and David
Doss held the Tigers in check and gave the offense a chance to win
the game late.
“It was
a very exciting game but there were too many strikeouts on our part,”
said South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell. “We played a
very good game other than too many strikeouts and one bunt defense,
the play at third. You have to give Auburn credit. They were a team
below .500 and they wanted this game tonight.”
David Freese
picked up a hit to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He
also collected three walks, in a game where the Auburn pitchers
clearly did not want to give him too much to hit.
Auburn got on
the board in the first inning with a single run. Tyler Johnstone
led off with an infield single. Andy Bennett then ripped a two-out
double off the right field wall. Johnstone came all the way around
from first, to score the opening run.
The Tigers added
their second run in the top of the third inning. Jeff Boutwell took
an Eric Gonzalez pitch deep to left, for his first homerun of the
season. The solo-homer put AU up 2-0.
Gonzalez ran
into trouble again in the fourth. Bennett swung and missed, but
reached first when the ball bounced away from Joel Collins. Josh
Donaldson then walked to put two on, with nobody out. Luke Greinke
attempted to sacrifice the runners up and bunted out front of home
plate. Gonzalez fielded and threw wide of third base. The throwing
error, allowed Bennett to score and subsequently ended Gonzalez’s
night. Zach Piccola came on and fanned Russell Dixon and Justin
Bristow. Piccola then got pitch hitter Ryan Stanley to ground to
David Freese at third base to end the inning.
The Jags threatened
but did not score in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tyler Jones
led off with a single up the middle and stole second. Freese ripped
a single off of the shortstop Bristow to out two on with one out.
The Tigers then went to the pen. Paul Burnside came on to strikeout
Jeff Cunningham for the second out. Aaron George lined a ball to
right field that looked like it would get down for a hit, until
Dixon came running in and made a beautiful sliding catch, to end
the inning.
South Alabama
got on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning. Patrick Weaver
got it started with a one-out single. Freese then followed with
a hard earned walk, his third of the game. Cunningham then laced
a 2-0 fastball into the left center field gap, scoring both runners
and cutting the lead to 3-2. The Tigers went to the pen for Johnny
Thompson. Thompson struck out George and got Doss to ground out
to end the eighth.
Auburn looked
to take the momentum right back in the top of the ninth. Doss started
the ninth on the mound and was greeted by a Dixon double. Bristow
then was hit by a pitch to put two on. Doss then fielded a bunt
attempt and forced the runner at third for out number one. Doss
then got a controversial double play to end the inning. The play
was originally ruled to have pulled Cunningham’s foot off
the bag at first. The play would have plated the fourth Auburn run.
Instead, an umpires conference overturned the call and the double
play was awarded. Tiger head coach Tom Slater argued until he was
ejected. He also argued after.
Lance Heisler
pitch hit to open the ninth inning and reached with a swinging bunt
up the third base line. Collins moved him up 90 feet with a sacrifice
bunt. Michael Cart pitch hit and watched Heisler advance on a wild
pitch. The ball did not get far but Heisler’s great base running
put the Jags 90 feet away from the tie. Cart was unable to make
contact, going down on a high fastball. Greinke, on to close, then
got Jones to ground out to end the game.
USA is next
in back in action Friday, Saturday and Sunday as it heads to Little
Rock for a three game Sun Belt series. All three games can be heard
on WNSP 105.5 FM. Live stats can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com
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