Auburn vs Georgia Southern

AUBURN Ala. –

Georgia Southern walked a season-high 12 batters, the last coming around for the go-ahead run, as the Eagles dropped an 8-6 decision Tuesday night (May 12). The Eagles fell to 35-15 overall.
The Tigers got a leadoff walk in the eighth, then with two outs got a RBI single from Brian Fletcher then run-scoring double from Casey McElroy to score the game-winning runs. Four of the 12 walks would eventually score for the Tigers.

Pinch-hitter Will Southwell (Moultrie/Colquitt County) singled to start off the ninth. Ty Wright (Montrose/ABAC) reached on an error by third baseman Dan Gamache then Kevin Bowles (Statesboro/Statesboro) executed his second sacrifice bunt of the game to put the tying runs on base. Closer Austin Hubbard struck out the final two batters to close out the game.
Wright hustled out a leadoff double to start the game. He took second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Eric Phillips’ (Carrollton/Carrollton) sacrifice fly.

Auburn (29-24) got a RBI single from Hunter Morris to tie the game. McElroy hit a single to left to bring home one run, but when tried scoring but a Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) throw to catcher Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) nailed him at the plate to end the inning.
A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bryant) doubled with one out in the second, took third on Pierce’s single then scored on a single by Roman Grimaldi (Duluth/North Florida CC) to tie the score.

The Tigers regained the lead in their half of the inning, taking advantage of four walks and a 2-run double by Ben Jones to go ahead 6-2.

GS tied the game in the fifth. Grimaldi started with a single. Wright hit a grounder that went through the legs of second baseman Justin Hargett to put runners on the corners. Benedict ripped a 2-run to center, then Phillips lined a double down the right field line. Later in the inning, Wirnsberger capped five straight base hits with a RBI single to right.

Auburn threatened in the sixth with a one-out double putting runners on second and third. Dexter Bobo (Cumming/Darton College) walked the bases loaded but got a lineout and strikeout to end the threat.

Starter Andy Moye (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) was charged for six runs on five hits in 1.2 innings. He walked five and struck out two. Colin Snow (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) pitched 3.2 scoreless innings. The freshman allowed one hit, four walks and struck out three. Bobo (2-2) pitched a season-high 2.1 innings and was charged for one run on one hit and struck out two.

GS actually out-hit Auburn 11-9, led by Wirnsberger and Grimaldi with two hits apiece. Phillips and Benedict drove in two runs each.

McElroy finished with two hits and three RBI. Sean Ray (1-0) pitched 3.1 scoreless innings to earn the win. He struck out four and scattered three hits. Austin Hubbard struck out the final two batters to earn his 12th save.

The Eagles close out the regular season this weekend with a three-game Southern Conference series against Wofford at J.I. Clements Stadium. Friday night’s (May 15) first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.