Big inning lifts Auburn against Hogs
Posted: May 1, 2010 at 5:46 p.m.
FAYETTEVILLE — Auburn only needed one big inning Saturday to knock off Arkansas.
And Hunter Morris delivered.
Morris ignited an eight-run fifth inning with two home runs in the frame to lift the Tigers to an 8-7 victory in front of 8,379 fans at Baum Stadium.
Arkansas played catch up the rest of the way and threatened, but pinch-hitter Thomas Hauskey struck out to end the game with runners on second and third base. The Razorbacks' loss sets up a rubber game in the three-game series Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
"That was the at-bat of the game and we worked hard to get there," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "It's disappointing it didn't happen for us, but give their pitcher credit, he worked out of a jam."
Auburn closer Austin Hubbard retired two straight after allowing runners to reach second and third base in the bottom of the ninth to end Arkansas' comeback.
Auburn (29-16, 11-9 Southeastern Conference) hit several balls to the warning track early in the game, but Randall Fant managed to retire 11 straight for the Hogs. Led by Morris' two home runs to right field, the Tigers hit four home runs in the fifth inning.
"I thought we took some good swings, but I didn't feel like anything positive was happening," Auburn Coach John Pawlowski said. "Then all of a sudden we put together some big hits, a couple home runs."
The Razorbacks (35-9, 14-6) managed to hold the Tigers' offense, tops in the Southeastern Conference, scoreless for eight innings and chipped away slowly at the plate before ultimately coming up short.
Andy Wilkins sparked the comeback by going 3-for-5 at the plate with 2 RBIs, including a single in the ninth that cut the lead to 8-7 and moved Brett Eibner to third. Eibner hit a three-run home run in the first inning to give Arkansas a 3-0 advantage, and chased starter Stephen Kolscheen after a 45-pitch first inning.
Fant left the mound after 4 1/3 innings and gave up four runs. Jeremy Heatley came on in relief but didn't last long, allowing four more runs on just 11 pitches.
Arkansas will start Eibner on the mound Sunday and Auburn will counter with left-hander Grant Dayton.
Read the Sunday edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and WholeHogSports.com for more on this story.
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