Seventh Inning Run Propels Auburn to Win
August 20, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Auburn Doubledays News Release
Auburn, NY - With second-place Williamsport posting a win early on Saturday night, the Auburn Doubledays knew they needed to win to remain in first place in the New York-Penn League's Pinckney Division. After trailing 1-0 to the State College Spikes after three innings, Auburn battled back, tying the game in the fifth and taking the lead in the seventh in a 2-1 win in front of 2,181 fans at Falcon Park on Saturday night.
Entering play, Auburn maintained a full-game lead over Williamsport for first place in the Pinckney Division. The Crosscutters, who had won eight of their last ten, defeated Jamestown 6-1 on Saturday, pulling them within a half-game of Auburn pending the Doubledays' result against State College.
Early on, things didn't look so hot for Auburn, managing just one base hit in the first three innings against Spikes starter Ryan Hafner. State College led one to nothing after three innings on an RBI double by Wes Freeman.
Fortunately, the Doubledays pitching kept them in the game, with Taylor Hill tossing five innings of one run, three hit baseball before turning it over to the bullpen.
Before the bullpen took over, the Auburn offense pushed across their first run in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Justin Miller grounded the ball to Spikes third baseman Walker Gourley. After fielding the ball, Gourley tried to tag out Doubledays runner Matt Skole, but missed the tag, forcing Gourley to rush his throw to first. As a result, the throw was low and first baseman Alex Dickerson was unable to dig it out to secure the third out in the inning. Gourley was charged with a throwing error to allow Miller to reach as Caleb Ramsey scored the game's tying run.
After great relief by Christian Garcia, who tossed two perfect innings, the game turned to the bottom of the seventh inning, where one of baseball's cardinal sins was broken by the State College bullpen.
Spikes reliever Cliff Archibald, in relief of starter Ryan Hafner, walked the leadoff batter, Bryce Ortega. Matt Skole followed with a line-drive single to right, putting men at the corners and the Doubledays in business.
Much like the fifth inning, it was Justin Miller who was at the plate in a crucial spot, and once more, he would come through in the clutch.
Miller hit a smash to first base that was gloved cleanly by Dickerson, who threw to second to force out Matt Skole. The relay throw to first was late as Bryce Ortega trotted home from third with the game's go-ahead run, giving Auburn their first lead.
Chad Jenkins and Aaron Barrett combined to shut down the Spikes in the eighth and ninth innings, closing out a 2-1 win for the Auburn Doubledays. The win was the fourth in a row for Auburn and the seventh in their last ten games.
With the victory, Auburn maintained their one-game lead over Williamsport in the Pinckney Division and increased their lead to four over third-place Mahoning Valley with just fifteen games left to play.
The Doubledays will go for win number five on their six-game home stand on Sunday night when they meet State College in a 6:05pm start at Falcon Park. Sunday night is pin giveaway night, presented by Savannah Bank, as well as Tompkins Trust Kids and Family Fun Day and Time Warner Family Sunday. For tickets, please visit www.auburndoubledays.com.
New York-Penn League Stories from August 20, 2011
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- State College Spikes Game Notes - August 20 at Auburn - State College Spikes
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- Doubledays Sweep IronBirds, Remain in First - Auburn Doubledays
- Benedict Superb, But Spikes Falter Late to Drop 6-4 Decision to Renegades - State College Spikes
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