With two on and two out in the top of the ninth, Creede Simpson stepped up to the plate to try and keep the Tiger's hopes alive as they faced Clemson in a 2010 Regional matchup.
Creede sent a towering shot over the left center field fence to take the lead.
Two years earlier Simpson was playing his senior season of baseball for Auburn High School. At the end of that season he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 45th round of the major league baseball draft, but would forgo his chance at the big leagues to play at Northwest Florida State College.
Simpson had an impressive .363 batting average and had 40 RBIs in his one and only season at NWFSC. After that season he transferred to Auburn for his sophomore year.
"Obviously I wanted to get drafted in a lower round, but I think really at heart I wanted to go to Auburn," Simpson said. "I mean growing up here and playing high school ball in the area made me want to come back, and I wanted to be closer to my family."
In his first season here, Simpson moved around from right field to center field and in and out of the starting lineup throughout the season. In games he did start he boasted a .317 batting average.
"It doesn't matter what position you are playing or the order in the lineup that you are hitting, just play, and don't worry," Simpson said. "It was a good first year, I had some success and it helped me build some confidence."
As an everyday starter in center field in 2011 Simpson's numbers were down, but made his presence known on the base paths as he led the team in steals with eight.
In his senior season, Simpson has bounced back in a big way leading the SEC in steals and has an above .300 batting average. He has also moved in from the outfield to anchor the infield at second base.
"You can learn a lot about his willingness to help by making the difficult move that he made from center to second," said Link Jarrett, director of player development. "Turning a double play is not an easy thing to do, but he has done a great job with the transition all year."
Fellow teammate of three years, Cory Luckie, said that he has taken notice to Simpson's ability to bounce back from a bad season while making the transition to second base.
"It's a maturity thing, not to say that he wasn't mature when he got here, but the way that he has bounced back from last year with a level head is pretty amazing," Luckie said. "Watching him play is unreal and the best thing is the transition to second base. It was such a natural move; it has been exciting to watch him this year.
"I can say that he is one of the best athletes I've played with."
As the season is nearing its end, Simpson said that he has expectations to play baseball at the next level.
"I am really hoping to get my degree this year and enter the draft," Simpson said. "If I get a shot at it I will hopefully have some success and keep moving my way up to the top."
The Tigers are looking to continue their success in the SEC as they are to face South Carolina at home this weekend in three game series.
"It's the SEC, anything can happen on any given day so we're excited to go out there and finish the season off strong," Simpson said.
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