University of Tennessee Athletics
Wiltz, Vols power past Auburn in 11 innings
March 29, 2008 | Baseball
Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
AUBURN, Ala. ??? Tennessee was dealt a four-run deficit Saturday, and the Volunteers baseball team responded with a season-high 17-hits and a healthy dose of junior reliever Danny Wiltz to defeat Auburn 8-4 in 11 innings at Samford Stadium-Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park.
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Wiltz pitched a career-high 6 2/3 sparkling innings out of the bullpen and tied his career-best with four strikeouts while surrendering no runs on just one hit as UT improved to 16-8 (5-3 SEC). The right-hander from Miami, Fla., improved to 3-0 this season with arguably the biggest win of his career.
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???I went out trying to maybe throw two or three good innings to keep us in there, and they stuck with me,??? Wiltz said of his marathon relief outing. ???I felt good. I felt like I kept getting stronger. I just threw a lot of strikes and tried to let my defense take care of me like they always do.???
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With the win, Tennessee improved to 4-0 this season in extra-inning games and 8-1 in one-run affairs.
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???That???s our team, right there,??? UT head coach Todd Raleigh said. ???We usually fall behind, somehow, and then we battle back.???
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After trailing 4-0 after four innings, Tennessee used a two-run double by right fielder Josh Liles???part of a career-high three-hit effort from the freshman from Jackson, Tenn.???to tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth, and that score stood entering the top of the 11th.
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It was then that UT first baseman Jeff Lockwood came through with a go-ahead two-run basehit that was followed by a two-run homer off the bat off true freshman left fielder P.J. Polk.
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Polk???s first career homer gave the Volunteers a four-run lead???matching the lead that Auburn (17-10, 3-5 SEC) enjoyed earlier in the day.
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Vols catcher Yan Gomes collected a career-high-tying four hits Saturday, marking his second multi-hit performance in as many games.
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The teams worked through a pair of scoreless innings Saturday, and the Vols left a pair of runners in scoring position in the top of the third. Auburn then got things started in the bottom of the third, using consecutive extra-base hits to take a 1-0 lead. Trent Mummey drove in Matt Hall with an RBI double after Hall had previously tripled off the wall in left field.
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The Tigers threatened to build on their lead later in the third, but UT starting pitcher Bryan Morgado induced back-to-back foul flies near the Vols dugout to strand two Auburn baserunners in scoring position.
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But four Auburn hits in the fourth helped the Tigers stretch their lead to 4-0. Third baseman Joseph Sanders jumpstarted the rally with an RBI basehit, and Brian Fletcher and Trent Mummey also chipped in with RBI singles.
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Tennessee plated its first run when second baseman Andy Simunic scored from third on an RBI sacrifice fly by shortstop Danny Lima in the top of the fifth.
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Morgado was lifted in favor of Wiltz after Tigers designated hitter Kevin Patterson drew a one-out walk to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth. And Wiltz quickly induced an inning-ending, double-play ball to prevent any further damage and keep Auburn???s three-run edge manageable.
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The Vols responded to the Tigers rally in the top of the sixth, loading the bases against Auburn starting pitcher Cory Luckie with one out. Simunic then plated Gomes with an RBI fielder???s choice, and Liles followed with his game-tying, two-run double down the third-base line.
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A leadoff single by UT centerfielder Kentrail Davis in the top of the seventh chased Luckie from the game. Luckie was lifted in favor of right-hander Taylor Thompson, who allowed a baserunner but produced back-to-back strikeouts to preserve the tie.
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Polk and Simunic led off the top of the 10th with back-to-back singles, and later in the inning with two outs, Tigers reliever Bryan Woodall hit Davis with a pitch to load the bases. But Woodall then got the flyball he needed to provide the crowd of 4,220 with more free baseball.
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Never yielding, however, Gomes and senior designated hitter Shawn Griffin delivered consecutive hits to leadoff the top of the 11th, setting the stage for Lockwood???s go-ahead single and Polk???s two-run job for good measure.
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Morgado lasted 4 1/3 innings Saturday, during which he allowed four runs on 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts. He earned a no-decision to keep his record this season at 3-2.
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Woodall took the loss for Auburn to fall to 0-1 on the year.
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Simunic???s first hit of the day???a third-inning single???was his 100th hit as a Vol. The senior from Collierville, Tenn., recorded 75 hits last season after transferring from Chattanooga State. He made his first start in the No. 7 spot in Tennessee???s lineup Saturday and went 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI.
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Raleigh was ejected by home plate umpire Steve Manders in the top of the eighth, after Manders consulted at length with his crew and ruled Simunic out for interference on a sacrifice bunt attempt.
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The series concludes Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. Left-hander Nick Hernandez (0-1, 4.85 ERA) will start on the mound for Tennessee, while Auburn???s starting pitcher will be freshman right-hander Bradley Hendrix (1-0, 3.96 ERA).
