Auburn Rallies To Defeat No. 12 Georgia, 4-3, With Last At-Bat Win

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May 16, 2004

Chris Dennis

AUBURN - Clete Thomas accounted for all of Auburn's runs as the sophomore outfielder had three RBI and scored twice, including the game winner as No. 22 Auburn rallied to defeat No. 12 Georgia, 4-3, at Plainsman Park Sunday.  The Tigers snapped the Bulldogs' 12-game SEC winning streak and improved to 31-21 and 11-16 in the league.  Georgia fell to 35-17 and 17-10.

Thomas hit a two-run home run in the second inning and sparked the Tigers' two-run rally in the eighth inning with a game-tying double before scoring the go-ahead run.

Trailing 3-2, Tug Hulett led off the eighth inning with a single and scored on Thomas' double to right center field off Bulldog reliever Mitchell Boggs.  Thomas advanced to third on Chuck Jeroloman's sacrifice and scored the game-winning run as Sean Gamble ground out with the infield drawn in.

Madison, Ala., native Chris Dennis (4-0) picked up the win in relief for the Tigers.  Dennis held Georgia two a pair of hits in three innings and struck out the final six batters to end the game.

Mitchell Boggs (2-2) was saddled with the loss for Georgia.  Boggs gave up two runs in 1/3 of an inning.

The win was the Tigers' seventh last at-bat win in SEC play and their 12th one-run victory, which ties a school record previously set in 1967 and 1981.

Georgia scored a run in the first on Justin Holmes' double scoring Josh Smith.  Smith led off the game with a triple and Holmes followed with the RBI double.

Thomas' fourth home run of the season in the third inning gave the Tigers a short-lived 2-1 lead.  Tug Hulett doubled prior to the Thomas homer that hugged the right-field foul pole.

Marshall Szabo led off the top of the fourth with a lead-off home run off Register to tie the game.  It was Szabo's fourth home run of the season.

Clint Sammons gave the visitors a one-run advantage in the sixth on an RBI single to right field plating Szabo, who led off the inning with a single. 
      
Auburn starter Steven Register gave up three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in six innings. Paul Lubrano went 6 2/3 innings in the start for the Bulldogs, allowing two runs on five hits.
      
Auburn will host Mercer in the Tigers' last home game of the 2004 season, Tuesday, May 18 at 6 p.m.

Auburn 4, Georgia 3 (May 16, 2004 at Auburn, Ala.)
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Georgia............. 100 101 000  -  3  8  0      (35-17, 17-10 SEC)
Auburn.............. 002 000 02X  -  4  7  0      (31-21, 11-16 SEC)
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