Auburn Drops Rubber Game With #22 Florida, 5-1

[AUSportTalk 4]

The Auburn pitching staff issued 11 walks, three of which

turned into runs, while the Auburn hitters were held to just seven hits

without a walk as No. 22 Florida claimed a Southeastern Conference

series win with a 5-1 victory on Sunday at Plainsman Park.

“We walked quite a few guys but managed to keep the game close. The

difference was offensively, they pitched extremely well and we didn’t

have many quality at bats,” Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. “We

didn’t get many lead off guys on base and we didn’t get a chance to

build many innings. To Florida’s credit, they threw the ball well.”

Florida starter Anthony DeSclafani surrendered one run on four hits in 6

1/3 innings to move to 4-1 on the season and up Florida’s record to

23-12 overall, 9-6 SEC.

Auburn starter Taylor Thompson (2-2) was tagged for the loss, allowing

three runs on three hits and a career-high six walks in 3 1/3 innings as

Auburn fell to 23-12, 7-8 SEC.

Alex Panteliodis threw the final 2 2/3 innings for Florida to earn his

first save of the year, entering with Florida leading 3-1 in the

seventh, surrendering just three hits while striking out three.

Justin Hargett finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three

singles and a run scored as Joseph Sanders’ sacrifice fly to left in the

bottom of the third plated Auburn’s only run of the game. Hargett’s

one-out hit in the third inning extended his hitting streak to a

career-best-tying nine games.

Florida took a 1-0 lead in the second on Matt den Dekker’s bases loaded

fielder’s choice which scored Buddy Monroe.

After Auburn answered on the Sanders sac fly, Florida took advantage of

four fourth-inning walks to score a pair of runs and regain the lead at

3-1. Preston Tucker’s two-out bases loaded single up the middle scored

two and it looked like Florida was poised to score even more after a

walk to Josh Adams reloaded the bases until Ben Jones made a diving

catch of Brandon McArthur’s liner to the gap in right-center, robbing

the third baseman of a hit and at least two RBI.

Daniel Pigott’s one-out home run to left following a lead-off walk to

Mike Mooney produced the final four-run margin of victory.

Bradley Hendrix relieved Thompson in the fourth inning and threw four

innings of one-run ball, allowing a hit and three walks while striking

out three to keep Auburn within striking distance.

Auburn failed to hit a home run for the second straight game, which

marks the first time since April 4-5, 2008, in which Auburn played

back-to-back homerless games.

Hunter Morris finished the game 0-for-3, snapping his nine-game hitting

streak.

Auburn will play a pair of 6pm midweek contests with South Alabama this

week, playing in Mobile on Tuesday and at Plainsman Park on Wednesday.

[Jackson-Sullivan 0]

Pitching, pitching, pitching!