Auburn Baseball Drops Series Opener at No. 12 Arkansas, 9-7
Auburn Baseball Drops Series Opener at No. 12 Arkansas, 9-7 May 21, 2004
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark . - The Auburn baseball team fell to No. 12 Arkansas 9-7 in the series opener Friday before a Baum Stadium record crowd of 8,526. The Tigers jumped to a 7-1 lead before the Razorbacks rallied to score eight unanswered runs for the win.Arkansas improved to 36-18 and 18-10 in the SEC, while Auburn fell to 31-23 and 11-17. The win kept the Razorbacks in a tie for the SEC West lead with Ole Miss and put the Tigers two games behind the eighth and final berth for the conference tournament. "We came to play as we have all season, but just couldn't hold on to the lead," Auburn head coach Steve Renfroe said. "Arkansas was just too good for us tonight." Auburn jumped to a 7-1 lead with four runs in the first inning and three in the fourth. A total of 13 of the 16 runs between the two clubs were scored with two outs. Sean Gamble had a two-run double scoring Ben Sprague and Clete Thomas to start the scoring in the first. Chuck Jeroloman followed with an infield single as a hustling Gamble scored from second. Jeroloman scored two batters later on Josh Sullivan's single to right center. After a Brady Toops leadoff homer in the third for the Razorbacks, the Tigers put three runs on the board in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead. Ben Sprague and Josh Bell had RBI singles in the inning and Clete Thomas scored on a wild pitch by Ryan Lennerton. The Razorbacks scored five runs with two outs in the fifth inning to trim the Tigers lead to 7-6. Casey Rowlett and Clay Goodwin started the rally with consecutive singles and scored on Scott Hode's triple. Haas Pratt walked and Danny Hamblin doubled home Hode. Auburn reliever John Madden's throwing error off the bat of pinch hitter Brett Hagedorn scored Pratt and Hamblin for the final runs of the inning. Arkansas took the lead for good in the sixth with a three-run inning. Clay Goodwin's sacrifice fly scoring Stephen Robinson tied the game and an infield RBI single to shortstop by Haas Pratt plated Casey Rowlett with the go-ahead run. Danny Hamblin followed Pratt with single up the middle to score Scott Hode. Jay Sawatski (8-3) picked up the win in relief for Arkansas after holding Auburn scoreless over the final four innings. John Madden (1-2) took the loss for the Tigers after allowing three runs on two hits in an inning of relief. Auburn starter Arnold Hughey gave up six runs, four earned in 4 2/3 innings. Razorback starter Clint Brannon lasted just 3 1/3 innings allowing six runs on six hits with four walks. The Tigers must win the final two games of the series with the Razorbacks, hope for a pair of Tennessee (13-15) loses and at least one Mississippi State (11-16) loss to Alabama to keep its SEC Tourney hopes alive. The second game of the series is tomorrow night at 7 p.m. CT. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
 
|
