Auburn knocks off ‘Noles, 10-9

By Andrew Gribble
Auburn University Beat Reporter
Published: February 28, 2009

We didn’t make it out to the ballpark today because we’re four hours away in Starkville, Miss.

Have no fear. The boss admirably filled in. Here are his thoughts from today’s 10-9 victory over No. 5 Florida State.

The game had to be stopped.

Florida State centerfielder Tyler Holt needed his glove.

He lost it over the fence trying to catch a deep fly by Auburn’s Joseph Sanders.

Holt had a bead on the ball, followed it to the warning track, stuck up his glove and squeezed. The ball hit the glove, Holt hit the wall, then, the ball and the glove hit the ground outside of Plainsman Park.

Three-run home run, the lead and enough cushion for the Tigers to hold on and win 10-9 over the No. 5 team in the country.

It was Auburn’s first win over Florida State (6-1) in the last seven games, dating back to the four-game series the Seminoles swept early in 2008. Actually, the last time the Tigers beat FSU was Feb. 10, 2006 – a 5-2 affair at Plainsman Park.

It was also a rebound game for AU (3-4), after losing 14-5 in Tallahassee on Friday afternoon.

“I talked to the team,” Auburn head coach John Pawlowski said. “Really, yesterday was not a good day for us. … We didn’t play well – just not a good day for Auburn baseball yesterday. I told them today is another day, another opportunity.

“They never seem to give up and battled back and found a way to win a ballgame today.”

Down 8-7 with one out in the bottom of the sixth and runners on first and third, Sanders took advantage of FSU relief pitcher Bo O’Dell’s hanging curveball and sent it to straightaway center.

Holt tracked the ball all the way to the fence, and leaped to snag it before it could get out of the park. He did, but the force of the collision into the wall sent Holt’s glove and the ball out of the park and then Holt to the ground.

“I saw it go in Holt’s glove …” Sanders said. “I was like, ‘He just did that.’ But at least the guy from third scored. But I saw when he landed he didn’t have a glove, so I was like, ‘Thank God.’”

The shot scored Justin Hargett and Trent Mummey, who both reached on singles. It was the second, third and fourth runs of the inning off of O’Dell, as Brian Fletcher led off the frame with a solo home run to left field.

It was Sanders’ fourth home run in the last three games – all against FSU – and his fifth of the season.

“I’m in a little groove right now, I guess,” Sanders said. “I hope it keeps going.”

Pawlowski agreed.

“He’s been playing very well,” the first-year head coach said. “He’s seeing the ball pretty well right now, and that was a huge three-run homer.”

With a 10-8 lead, Pawlowski went to his bullpen and junior right-hander Austin Hubbard, who came in for the final three innings to pick up his first-career save.

Other than a solo home run to Holt in the eighth, Hubbard was near flawless, as he struck out four of the 11 batters he faced.

“It was awesome,” Sanders said of Hubbard’s appearance. “He came in there and shut the door right in their faces. He left one pitch up, but a pitcher is going to do that. He shut the door on them and did an incredible job.”

Michael Hurst earned the win for the Tigers, facing just three batters in a third of an inning. But since he was the pitcher of record when Auburn mounted its sixth-inning comeback, the junior eared his first victory of the year.

Auburn started the game down 3-0 after 2 1/2 innings, but scored three runs in the third and three in the fourth to take a 6-4 lead.

Florida State wasn’t done, though, throwing a four-spot up in the top of the sixth for what looked like the knockout punch.

But Sanders, Hubbard and Co. had different plans, using Friday’s blowout loss as motivation.

“That was huge to come back here and not have them beat us here,” Hubbard said. “After (Friday), and not playing so hot … I think it woke us up, so that was huge.”

Mummey led Auburn at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Sanders was 2-for-5 with five RBI.

Holt was 3-for-3 for the Seminoles, including two doubles and a home run.

Auburn and FSU are supposed to finish the four-game series at 1 p.m. today. However, with the forecast calling for freezing temperatures and maybe even some snow, the start time could be postponed or the game cancelled indefinitely.

“Hopefully the weather will clear up for us,” Pawlowski said. “It’s supposed to be a little dicey in the morning.”

Pawlowski said the latest today’s game would start would be 3 p.m., giving the teams a two-hour window for the weather to clear up if that is the case.

(Photo credit: Todd Van Emst)