Tigers relievers gave up 10 runs in the final four innings Saturday at Plainsmen Park, giving up three-run home runs to Elon's Pat Irvine and Justin Hilt.
“The guys understand that against good hitting teams — teams like Elon, teams in the SEC — we’re going to have to make quality pitches,” said John Pawlowski, who suffered his first loss as
The bullpen was expected to be a big question mark for Auburn (1-1) all season. The relievers used Saturday -- all four of them -- didn't provide any answers, giving up eight hits and walking three in 5 1/3 innings.
Some other quick thoughts and notes from the first baseball game I've seen here:
- First of all, what a lovely field. I've got to say I'm impressed. It rivals many minor league stadiums that I've been into. I'm sure when it gets warm (it was cool and in the 50's today), it will be a great place to watch a ballgame.
- Elon (1-1) doesn't seem like a pushover. The Phoenix are the defending champions and the preseason favorites in the Southern Conference, a league Pawlowski knows well after coaching at College of Charleston for nine years.
- Those home runs weren't cheapies. Irvine hit his opposite field over the sloping, diagonal portion of the fence in left-center. Hilt launched a moonshot over the left field wall in the ninth, prompting me to bust out the "Major League" failsafe, "No way. It's too high." It wasn't. He just crushed it.
- Not a great hitting day for Auburn, which finished with only six hits. The Tigers had their opportunities, though, stranding runners at first and third in the first inning and leaving the bases loaded in the eighth after Tony Caldwell popped out to short and Justin Hargett laced a ball that was right at the center fielder.
- CF Trent Mummey was the exception for Auburn, going 3-for-4 with two solo home runs and three RBIs. He got emphatic when rounding third after the first one, trying to get the crowd into the game with Auburn trailing 6-3. Interestingly, he only hit four home runs all of last year.
- The teams play the rubber match of the series today. Paul Burnside, who missed almost all of last season with a broken collarbone, will take the mound for Auburn.
2 comments:
we lost to Elon??? Is that even a college? so much for our new coach. There is no excuse for this. The facilities are first class. What else can be done?
For starters, I think you can give Pawlowski more than two games to right the ship. This team ain't going to get fixed overnight.
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