Baseball VMIKeydets.com

Baseball Falls at Auburn, 6-4

AUBURN, Ala.? Despite a pair of comebacks to tie the score in the middle innings, Auburn had the last word as they scored a 6-4 win over VMI on Friday evening in game two of the weekend, four-game series at Plainsman Park. The Tigers improve to 8-4 on the year, while VMI falls to 4-5.

Trailing 1-0 early, VMI knotted the score at one in the third inning before a 4-1 deficit was erased with a three-run rally in the Keydet fifth. The Tigers took the lead for good in the seventh, when junior Mike Bianucci scored from third on a stolen base attempt by freshman Hunter Morris with runners at the corners, as the Keydets threw to second and were unable to tag out Morris in the rundown before Bianucci scored.

Four free bases came back to haunt Keydet starter Trey Barham (1-1) on the evening, as three walks and a hit batsmen produced three runs scored and an RBI. On the evening, Barham threw 100 pitches and was tagged with eight hits and six runs, striking out three in addition to his free passes.

“I thought that Trey pitched very well tonight with the exception of a couple of walks and a hit batsman,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “Our offense showed resilience in coming back twice to tie the score, and they showed a never-quit attitude and the ability to score some runs against one of the best pitching staffs in the nation. I was proud of the way our guys competed for 27 outs tonight. Unfortunately they won the back half of the game, and that was the difference in the ballgame.”

The Tigers jumped out to a first-inning lead for the second-straight night, however this time the margin was only 1-0. Freshman leadoff man Trent Mummey led off the inning with a double down the leftfield-line and scored three batters later on Morris' base knock through the right-side of the infield.

A leadoff single from sophomore Justin Hess began the top of the third before a bunt single and a base knock put runners at the corners for A.J. Yoder. With one out, Yoder sent the 1-1 pitch to deep right-centerfield, where Mummey made a tremendous catch to prevent extra bases and allow Hess to tie the game on the sacrifice fly.

Barham then walked Mummey to leadoff the third inning before giving up back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases. A full-count walk issued to Morris gave the Tigers the lead back, while an RBI fielder's choice hit to second base by Joseph Sanders brought the margin to 3-1 with only one out in the inning. However, Barham bared down once again to escape further damage by retiring the next two batters to end the inning.

The Tigers tacked on another run in the fourth, as shortstop Matt Hall scored on Justin Hargett's single through the left-side of the infield after reaching on a one-out walk.

However, once again the visitors answered. In the fifth inning, a one-out walk issued by Tiger starter Bradley Hendrix was followed by a double by freshman Sam Roberts on a ball hit into shallow leftfield that went off of Hall's glove as he retreated out at full speed to try and make the catch. With runners at second and third, senior Shane Geisslinger singled into leftfield to plate one run, while a double steal made it a one-run contest. Geisslinger then came around to score on Mike Roberts' single through the left-side of the infield to even the score once again.

Barham settled into a rhythm from there, retiring nine in a row before hitting Bianucci in the back with two outs in the seventh inning. A base-knock from Morris put runners on the corners, setting up the first-and-third play that plated Bianucci with the go-ahead run.

Given a lead, the Tiger bullpen was flawless, as Evan Crawford (2-0), who entered the game in the top of the seventh, was put in position for the win. After Crawford retired the Keydets in order in the eighth, AU tacked on another run in the bottom-half, as Sanders scored after a leadoff double when Ben Jones singled through the left-side of the infield.

After a leadoff double into leftfield by Thane Smith in the ninth, AU closer Bryan Woodall set down Alex Haitsuka, Sam Roberts and Brian Sandridge in order to lock up his second save of the season.

Hendrix was tagged for four runs on seven hits in his first collegiate start, striking out four while walking only one. The Tiger bullpen trio of Austin Hubbard, Crawford and Woodall combined to allow only two hits and one walk over the final four innings, striking out six while shutting out the Keydet offense.

At the plate, Jordan Ballard and Shane Geisslinger notched a pair of hits each, while Mike Roberts and Tanner Biagini each extended their season-long hitting streaks to eight games. Geisslinger, Mike Roberts and Yoder picked up the RBI for the visitors, while Hess scored a pair of runs and was credited with one of four Keydet stolen bases on the night, as were the Roberts' brothers and Geisslinger.

For the Tigers offensively, Morris, Sanders and Justin Hargett each notched a pair of hits, with Morris driving in a pair. Mummey scored a pair of runs while going 1-for-2 at the plate.

The Keydets and Tigers play game three of the four-game series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. Central. The Keydets will send to the mound junior righty Michael Bowman (0-1, 3.00 ERA), and he will be opposed by Tiger freshman Cory Luckie (1-1, 2.45 ERA).
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Players Mentioned

Jordan Ballard

#26 Jordan Ballard

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Trey Barham

#8 Trey Barham

LHP
6' 0"
Senior
L/L
Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Michael Bowman

#17 Michael Bowman

RHP
6' 3"
Junior
R/R
Shane Geisslinger

#2 Shane Geisslinger

IF
5' 8"
Senior
R/R
Alex Haitsuka

#28 Alex Haitsuka

C/OF
6' 3"
Freshman
R/R
Justin Hess

#3 Justin Hess

IF/OF
5' 11"
Sophomore
L/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
Brian Sandridge

#31 Brian Sandridge

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/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
Trey Barham

#8 Trey Barham

6' 0"
Senior
L/L
LHP
Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Michael Bowman

#17 Michael Bowman

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Shane Geisslinger

#2 Shane Geisslinger

5' 8"
Senior
R/R
IF
Alex Haitsuka

#28 Alex Haitsuka

6' 3"
Freshman
R/R
C/OF
Justin Hess

#3 Justin Hess

5' 11"
Sophomore
L/R
IF/OF
Mike Roberts

#6 Mike Roberts

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
C
Sam Roberts

#4 Sam Roberts

6' 2"
Freshman
L/R
IF/OF/P
Brian Sandridge

#31 Brian Sandridge

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
OF
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
IF