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Six-Run First Inning Proves Costly In 9-3 Loss at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala.? A six-run first inning was more than enough for Auburn, as the Tigers rolled to a 9-3 non-conference victory against VMI on Thursday evening in the first game of a four-game set at Plainsman Park. The Tigers improve to 7-4 with their third-straight win, as the Keydets fall to 4-4 on the 2008 campaign.

Keydet starter Jason Farley (1-1) faced ten batters in the first inning, being touched up for six runs, four earned, on three hits. Farley also walked three batters while the Keydets were charged with two errors in the frame. The big hits came as Auburn sophomore third baseman Joseph Sanders stroked a three-run double to bring the margin to 4-0, while a Kevin Patterson single and a Matt Hall groundout brought the margin to 6-0.

Farley rebounded in impressive fashion, retiring nine of the next 11 batters he faced until a leadoff single by freshman first baseman chased him in the fifth inning in favor of freshman hurler Adam Kruithof, who retired the first three batters he faced but allowed the inherited runner to score on an RBI groundout to bring the tally to 7-0. Farley's final line on the night saw him allow seven runs, five earned, on six hits in four innings, striking out three while walking three.

Meanwhile, Auburn starter Grant Dayton (1-0) impressed in his first collegiate start, facing two batters over the minimum through the first 4.1 innings. In the fifth, freshman Alex Haitsuka and junior shortstop A.J. Yoder strung together back-to-back hits, but were left stranded when Dayton retired the next two batters.

Junior Mike Roberts put the Keydets on the board in the top of the sixth inning, lacing a ball to deep centerfield with one out. When centerfielder Luke Greinke fell when running back to make the catch, the ball skipped all the way to the wall allowing Roberts to circle the bases and score VMI's first inside-the-park home run since Matt Smith did so against High Point at Patchin Field on May 14, 2005.

Dayton was lifted after six innings, allowing six hits and one run while striking out eight Keydets. In 13 innings on the season, the redshirt-freshman has allowed only one run.

The Tigers answered with a pair of runs in the sixth off of Kruithof, as a pair of sacrifice flies brought Auburn's lead to 9-1. The Keydets then trotted out redshirt-senior reliever Matt Murrer for the eighth inning and freshman Ryan Barefoot in the ninth, as both hurlers made their mound debuts, each allowing one baserunner before retiring the side.

Meanwhile at the plate, VMI tallied single runs in the eighth and ninth, as pinch-hitter Matt Edwards led off the eighth with a triple into right-centerfield before trotting home on a wild pitch off of AU reliever Taylor Thompson, before freshman Sam Roberts scored on Thane Smith's first-pitch single into rightfield.

“I thought that Jason Farley did a nice job of settling down after first inning,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “We got to see a lot of guys in some different positions, and Adam Kruithof, Matt Murrer and Ryan Barefoot all did a good job in relief. We gave up the big inning early, but I thought that we did a good job of continuing to play the game late and putting some runs on the board. I was really proud of how competed after being down early, and it was good to get our young players in this kind of environment to let them see what it's like to play against a good SEC team.”

Sophomore first baseman Jordan Ballard tallied a pair of hits in the loss, while both sophomore Tanner Biagini and Mike Roberts extend their season-long hitting streaks to eight games. For the Tigers, Morris went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, while Sanders three RBI led the way.

The Keydets and Tigers play game two of the four-game series on Friday evening, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. Central. The Keydets will send to the mound senior lefty Trey Barham (1-0, 2.38 ERA), and he will be opposed by Tiger freshman Bradley Hendrix (0-0, 3.60 ERA).
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Players Mentioned

Jordan Ballard

#26 Jordan Ballard

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Ryan Barefoot

#21 Ryan Barefoot

SS/RHP
6' 4"
Freshman
R/R
Trey Barham

#8 Trey Barham

LHP
6' 0"
Senior
L/L
Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Matt Edwards

#14 Matt Edwards

RHP/DH
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
Jason Farley

#11 Jason Farley

LHP
6' 3"
Freshman
L/L
Alex Haitsuka

#28 Alex Haitsuka

C/OF
6' 3"
Freshman
R/R
Adam Kruithof

#9 Adam Kruithof

RHP/IF
5' 11"
Freshman
R/R
Mike Roberts

#6 Mike Roberts

C
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Sam Roberts

#4 Sam Roberts

IF/OF/P
6' 2"
Freshman
L/R
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

IF
5' 11"
Junior
L/R

Players Mentioned

Jordan Ballard

#26 Jordan Ballard

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Ryan Barefoot

#21 Ryan Barefoot

6' 4"
Freshman
R/R
SS/RHP
Trey Barham

#8 Trey Barham

6' 0"
Senior
L/L
LHP
Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Matt Edwards

#14 Matt Edwards

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
RHP/DH
Jason Farley

#11 Jason Farley

6' 3"
Freshman
L/L
LHP
Alex Haitsuka

#28 Alex Haitsuka

6' 3"
Freshman
R/R
C/OF
Adam Kruithof

#9 Adam Kruithof

5' 11"
Freshman
R/R
RHP/IF
Mike Roberts

#6 Mike Roberts

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
C
Sam Roberts

#4 Sam Roberts

6' 2"
Freshman
L/R
IF/OF/P
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
IF