Florida Gators
Auburn
Auburn Takes Series Opener Over No. 7 Florida, 4-1
Friday, May 15, 2015 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Auburn scored twice in the sixth inning and added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning to post a 4-1 decision over No. 7 Florida on Thursday night at McKethan Stadium. Junior Melvin Gray was 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Tigers (34-20/13-15 SEC), while redshirt sophomore right-hander Cole Lipscomb (7-2) yielded one run over 6.1 innings to the Gators (38-15/17-11 SEC).
Freshman Dalton Guthrie gave the Gators a 1-0 lead with a two-out single in the fifth inning that brought home freshman Mike Rivera (2-for-3). Lipscomb retired the first two batters of the frame before Rivera blooped a double into center field. After sophomore Ryan Larson walked, Guthrie sent the next pitch into left field to open the scoring.
Auburn seized a 2-1 lead with two down in the sixth inning on a double by Gray. Freshman Austin Murphy drew a leadoff walk from sophomore Logan Shore (6-6), ending the right-hander's stretch of 13 straight batters retired. Junior Cody Nulph laid down a sacrifice bunt and a grounder by junior Sam Gillikin pushed Murphy to third. Sophomore Kyler Deese was hit by a pitch and then stole second base and Gray lifted a ball into right center that both sophomore Buddy Reed and Larson were tracking, resulting in a collision that allowed both runs to score.
Sophomore Peter Alonso opened the Gators' seventh with a double into right center and took third on a base-hit into right field by Rivera. Junior Justin Camp replaced Lipscomb (6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R) and walked freshman pinch hitter Jeremy Vasquez to load the bases with one down. However, the reliever had Guthrie line into an inning-ending double play to keep the Tigers in front. Camp threw 2.2 scoreless innings to collect his eighth save.
Junior Jordan Ebert and Gray came through with RBI singles in the eighth to give Auburn a 4-1 lead. Senior Bobby Poyner took over for Shore (7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R) and yielded a leadoff single to junior pinch hitter Alex Polston. Nulph singled into left center to advance sophomore pinch runner J.J. Shaffer to third base but was gunned down at second base on a relay from junior left fielder Harrison Bader to Guthrie. Ebert delivered a pinch-hit, run-scoring single and a base-hit by Deese brought junior Eric Hanhold in for Poyner. Rivera threw out Ebert attempting to steal third base and Gray followed with a two-out base-knock to give the visitors a three-run margin.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
On tonight's loss vs. Auburn:
“I think their starter [Cole Lipscomb] did a really good job. He mixed pitches and we fell behind. There weren't a lot of fastballs. Credit him because he did a good job. I also thought Logan [Shore] did a good job. His start was really good too, he was crisp. It was a really good ballgame. The obvious turning point was when we had two outs in the sixth and the outfielders collided. It's unfortunate, but you just can't have those types of mistakes at this time of the year. Credit Auburn because they also put together a good eighth inning off our pen that is usually reliable. Credit them. It was just one of those nights that they played better and deserved to win.”
Sophomore right-hander Logan Shore
On retiring 13 batters in a row:
“I came out there attacking and tried to locate my stuff. I didn't have my best fastball tonight, but I kept the ball down. I was fortunate enough to get the outs.”
Freshman catcher Mike Rivera
On throwing out four batters attempting to steal:
“I give credit to the pitchers being quick and giving me a chance to throw [the runners] out. I just try to make an accurate throw. I know I can trust Richie [Martin] and Dalton [Guthrie] any time. It felt good.”
Postgame Notes:
- The Gators will be seeking to win their fifth SEC series after dropping game one.
- Florida has played error-free baseball in 31 of its 53 games and is 24-7 (.774) in those games.
- Josh Tobias extended his hitting streak to 10 games in which he is 14-for-38 (.368).
- Logan Shore retired 13 straight batters and allowed a pair of hits and two walks through seven innings but was on the short end of the decision.
- Mike Rivera caught four Tigers attempting to steal in tonight's matchup and was a team-best 2-for-3 at the plate.
Up Next
The Gators and Tigers will meet again tomorrow at 7 p.m., with sophomore lefty A.J. Puk (7-3, 4.73) on the mound against senior righty Rocky McCord (5-3, 3.42). The game can be heard on the Gator IMG Sports Network with Jeff Cardozo and Mick Hubert and will be simulcast on SEC Network+ through WatchESPN.
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