The Auburn Tigers took on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Sunday, March 1. The Tigers scored nine runs but ended up losing the game 10-9.
The Tigers captured the lead early getting three runs in the first. Sophomore Anfernee Grier hit a double as lead off man for the Tigers and scored a run off of a caught fly ball out to left field by sophomore Blake Logan.
The second two runs in the first inning came off of a double to left-center field by freshman Hunter Tackett.
The Tigers decided to make a pitching change to sophomore Izaac Yarbrough in the second inning after Davis left the mound with the bases loaded and no outs.
Four players proceeded to score before the Tigers decided to make another pitching change in the second to senior right-hander Robby Clements. Jacksonville State got another run before the end of the inning to lead 5-3 going into the bottom of the second.
Junior Alex Polston scored in the bottom of the second after getting on with a double to center-left field.
Cody Nulph, the Tigers' junior shortstop, was the only player to score in the third. His double got him on base and prompted the Gamecocks to make their first pitching change before being hit in by Grier.
Grier scored two runs on his two hits in addition to two RBI’s.
After the game, coach Sunny Golloway said that he was proud of the way that Grier has been playing, but that Grier would be the first one to point out his own mistakes.
“He’s just a special athlete,” Golloway said, “He’s the first one to tell you he’s really disappointed maybe in the ninth because he popped up, but that’s just how he is. He’s so competitive, He’s one of those guys striving for excellence all the time, but we’re just fortunate to have him.”
Jacksonville State led 6-5 after the top of the 4th inning after Clements gave up a run.
The Tigers saw the most offense in the 5th. Auburn scored four runs and forced the Gamecocks to go to their third pitcher.
Heading into the 8th inning, the Tigers lead was two runs.
Auburn eclipsed their season high with seven pitchers used. Junior Sam Mason made his first career appearance for the Tigers in the top of the 8th inning, but after loading the bases and acquiring only one out; fellow junior Justin Camp replaced him.
Camp was on the mound when three Jacksonville State players scored, but all three runs were credited to Mason.
The tigers were unable to score in the bottom of the ninth despite holding the Gamecocks scoreless in the top.
Golloway said after the game that he was disappointed with the loss but his team could use it to their advantage.
“Really disappointing,” Golloway said, “The thing that stands out the most is that they had 11 hits. You’ve got to tip your cap off to them getting the hits, but we out hit them…That’s 25 base-runners in a nine inning game. You’re not going to win games giving up 25 base runners.”
The Tigers play Alabama Tuesday in the Capital City Classic in Montgomery on Tuesday March 3.
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