Five-Run Fourth Enough as Auburn Evens Series
with 7-4 Win Over Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Auburn posted six hits and five runs in the fourth inning against Vanderbilt and held on to even the series at a game apiece with a 7-4 victory, Saturday, April 26, at Hawkins Field.

The eighth-ranked Tigers pounded out 14 hits in the game and improved to 32-12 overall and 13-7 in the Southeastern Conference. Vanderbilt managed only five hits and dropped to 21-20 overall and 9-11 in the SEC. The Commodores slip into a tie for second place in the SEC Eastern Division following division-leading South Carolina's 13-2 win against Ole Miss. Florida split a pair of contests with Mississippi State, winning 13-5 and losing 6-5 to share second place with the Commodores.

With Auburn leading 2-1, nine Tiger batters stepped to the plate in the fourth inning. Chuck Jeroloman singled in Scott Shade to start the scoring off VU starter Robert Ransom (3-2). Jovan Moran, who went a game-high 4-for-5 at the plate, followed two batters later with a single to left field that scored Jeroloman. Bobby Huddleston pushed the Tiger lead to 5-1 two batters later with a bloop single to left field that brought in Sean Gamble. Karl Amonite capped off Auburn's scoring and chased Ransom from the game when he hit a two-run double to right field that plated Moran and Huddleston.

Auburn starter Colby Paxton (5-1) took a one hitter into the sixth inning before Vanderbilt scored three times to trim the deficit to 7-4. Ryan Klosterman doubled along the line in left field to start the inning. After Ryan Godfrey advanced Klosterman to third base with a ground out, Cesar Nicolas was hit in the face by a pitch from Paxton and had to leave the game. Warner Jones followed with a RBI ground out to bring in Klosterman. John Kaye followed with a two-run home run to right center field, scoring pinch runner Matt Zeller, to make the score 7-4.

Paxton ended the day allowing four hits and four runs (three earned) in 5.2 innings. Steven Register earned his 13th save of the season, pitching 1.2 innings, striking out two and walking one.

In the loss, Ransom allowed 11 hits on seven runs (six earned) with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Tony Mansolino went 2-for-4 to improve his career-high hit streak to a team-best 13 games. Klosterman also had two hits for the Commodores.

The rubber game of the series is Sunday at 1 p.m. The contest will be televised by Comcast Sports Southeast. Freshman left-hander Ryan Mullins (2-6, 3.82 ERA) will start for Vanderbilt. Auburn will counter with junior right-hander Cory Dueitt (6-1, 2.06 ERA).