Even though Auburn only had one less hit than California, they left 13 runners on base, which helped them get shut out 5-0 in their second game of the Tiger Classic Feb. 22.
"We left seven guys stranded in the first three innings," head coach Sunny Golloway said. "We did a good job getting them on but we're definitely not having any clutch hits and that has hurt us."
Their lack of scoring troubles started in the bottom of the first. Dan Glevenyak started the inning with a single to right field and Ryan Tella followed with an infield single. After a sacrifice fly and a walk the bases were loaded but the rally ended when Keegan Thompson hit a pop up to the centerfielder.
California's first run came in the second when Mitchell Kranson hit an RBI single to score Robbie Tenerowicz.
In the following inning Auburn had runners on first and second with one out and Anfernee Grier smashed a line drive on a hit and run play and the right fielder made a nice catch and converted the double play at second since Patrick Savage was already rounding third base.
Glevenyak led off the third with a double to the green monster. Then Auburn recorded two consecutive outs and Thompson hit a single to left field but Glevenyak was thrown out at home.
Auburn pitcher Michael O'Neal had a solid night on the mound but his offense did not give him any run support for the second time this season. O'Neal only allowed one hit in his first five innings but in the sixth inning California had three hits and he walked in a run.
Jacob Milliman then came in with the bases loaded and started strong with a strikeout but then Brenden Farney hit a two-RBI single to make it 4-0. Reid Carter finished off the inning. After Carter started the seventh inning walking the first batter he faced, Daniel Koger came in to pitch. California's final run of the game came in the seventh off of an RBI single.
In the bottom of the seventh Auburn had a hit by Damon Haecker and Anfernee Grier advanced on an error. They eventually reached second and third but Auburn continued to not score with a two-out fly ball by Tella to end the inning.
Auburn did not have any offensive production in their last two innings.
Golloway said there will be major changes to the lineup starting tomorrow at 2 p.m. vs. ETSU.
"We had several returning guys hit deep fly balls and I'm seeing them smiling in the dugout being down 4-0 and 5-0. I've never seen that, I've never allowed it and I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone," Golloway said. "When we try to get onto them and explain that's not winning baseball they look at us like we've got three heads. Let's get some new blood in there and some guys that don't have bad habits or don't have losing ways."
Golloway hinted after the game that J.J. Shaffer would start at centerfield, Blake Austin would move from catcher to third base and Blake Logan would be catcher tomorrow.
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