The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Auburn
No. 13 Auburn Rallies Past Ole Miss
5/17/2003 | Baseball
May 17, 2003
Box Score in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Box Score
AUBURN, Ala. - Karl Amonite's three-run home run in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie and lifted No. 13 Auburn to a 5-2 win over Ole Miss Saturday afternoon in front of 2,865 at Plainsman Park, and evening this weekend's three-game Southeastern Conference series. The Rebels won Friday's series opener 7-4.
The loss snapped Ole Miss' four-game win streak and snapped the Rebels' five-game win streak over the Tigers at Plainsman Park. The loss also dropped Ole Miss (33-22) back into a tie with Auburn (37-17) for second place in the SEC Western Division with a 17-12 conference mark.
Ole Miss freshman left-hander Brae Wright carried a shutout into the sixth inning. Javon Moran started the sixth with a triple to left center. Tug Hulett then drew a walk and Bobby Huddleston followed with a single through the left side to score Moran and cut the Rebels' lead to 2-1. Amonite followed with his 10th home run of the year to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead.
Wright (4-3) was charged with all four runs on eight hits and walked three in five-plus innings in suffering the loss. He also struck out two.
"I thought Brae pitched well today," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "You're just not going to win a lot of games getting five or six hits, unless they're home runs, or you going to get a shutout. And it's unfair to ask someone to go out and pitch a shutout, especially a true freshman."
Junior right-hander Eric Brandon (3-3) worked two scoreless innings of relief of starter Arnold Hughey to earn the win. He allowed one hit and one walk, while recording one strikeout.
Steven Register pitched the final two innings to record his 14th save of the year. He allowed two hits and one walk, while striking out three.
Second baseman Tug Hulett went 2-for-2 with an RBI single in the seventh to extend Auburn's lead to 5-2, and shortstop Chuck Jeroloman went 2-for-4 to pace the Tigers at the plate.
Matt Tolbert and Charlie Waite had two hits apiece for the Rebels.
Auburn out-hit Ole Miss 10-6 on the afternoon.
The Rebels took a 2-0 lead in the second. Justin Donovan led-off the inning with his first career home run. Ole Miss added another run when Matt Tolbert doubled, and after stealing third, scored on Jonathan Swearingen's sacrifice bunt.
"We just didn't do anything offensively after scoring our two runs early," Bianco said. "We had some opportunities, but we just didn't capitalize. As much as it hurts to lose, we just didn't play well enough to deserve to win.
"Auburn did more than us today, and that's why they won."
Ole Miss stranded 10 runners on base for the afternoon, including six in scoring position.
The two teams will play the rubber-match of this weekend's series Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Freshman right-hander Mark Holliman (4-5, 3.79 ERA) is scheduled to start for Ole Miss. Auburn is slated to send senior right-hander Levale Speigner (8-0, 2.60 ERA) to the mound.
No. 13 Auburn 5, Ole Miss 2 (May 17, 2003 at Auburn, Ala.)----------------------------------------------------------------------Ole Miss 020 000 000 - 2 6 3 (33-22, 17-12 SEC)Auburn 000 004 00x - 5 10 1 (37-17, 17-12 SEC)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Ole Miss - Brae Wright; A. Cupps(6). Auburn - Hughey; Brandon(6); Register(8).Win-Brandon(3-3) Save-Register(14) Loss-Brae Wright(4-3) T-2:53 A-2865HR UM - J. Donovan (1).HR AU - Amonite (10).Game notes:NATIONAL RANKINGS: AUB- #13 SW/ESPN; #14 BA; #16 CB; #18 NCBWABrae Wright faced 4 batters in the 6th.Game: UM0517
