SSAC News
Sat, Apr 28, 2007 - [Baseball]
MONTGOMERY, Ala.—It took 3 hours and 40 minutes and 19 runs, but Auburn University Montgomery (46-1) was able to outlast Lee University (44-12) 19-11 in the final elimination game tonight at the Southern States Athletic Conference baseball tournament.
The game was one which both teams had to go deep into their pitching staffs, as Lee used five and AUM used three. Lee jumped out to a 7-2 lead after three innings, really taking advantage of the AUM hurlers wildness.
With the game tied at two, Lee scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on only three hits, as AUM pitchers walked four batters in the inning. Twice with bases loaded to walk in runs.
After the 7-2 lead for Lee, the AUM bats seemed to come to life, as the Senators scored all 19 runs over the next five innings.
AUM cut the lead to 7-6 with four runs in the top of the fifth, with Matt Keel’s double delivering two runs and Davis Lambert’s double cutting the lead to one.
In the sixth, AUM took the lead for good on Matt Arrighi’s two run home run. It was his second of the season. AUM went on to score eight runs in the inning as Stephen Partick’s two run blast scoring the final runs of the inning. The home run for Partrick was the first of his career.
AUM was not through scoring as the pushed across two more runs in the seventh and three in the eighth to put the game out of reach with a 19-7 lead. Lee did not go easy as they managed to score a run in the seventh and three in the eighth to make the final score 19-11.
AUM had 18 hits for the game and Davis Lambert and Paul Vasquez had four each. Lambert had a career-high four RBI during the game. Arrighi finished with three RBI as did Allen Ponder. Several AUM hitters had multiple hits in the game, as eight of the nine starters recorded hits.
For Lee, Jeremy Hutslar, Elvis Sosa and Nick Utley all had two hits a piece. Sosa finished with five RBI and Utley had two.
Brandon Ware (1-1) came on in relief for Mitch Thorn who lasted three and two-thirds of an inning. Ware walked the first two batters he faced, but was able to settle down over the next two innings. He gave way to Mark Presnell who pitched the final three innings. AUM pitchers allowed a season high 10 walks in the game.
Lee starter Nick Utley kept the Senators down until the fifth inning when he had to leave the game. He gave way to Michael Oberg (6-1) who only lasted two-third of an inning allowing five hits and seven runs. It was his first loss of the season.
The loss eliminated Lee University, as they will advance to the NAIA Region XIII tournament. AUM will now play Southern Polytechnic in the final game of the day. If AUM can knock off the Runnin’ Hornets, the two teams will meet in the championship game tomorrow at 1 p.m. If SPSU wins they will be named the SSAC tournament champions and earn the automatic bid to the regional tournament that will begin May 8.
The game was one which both teams had to go deep into their pitching staffs, as Lee used five and AUM used three. Lee jumped out to a 7-2 lead after three innings, really taking advantage of the AUM hurlers wildness.
With the game tied at two, Lee scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on only three hits, as AUM pitchers walked four batters in the inning. Twice with bases loaded to walk in runs.
After the 7-2 lead for Lee, the AUM bats seemed to come to life, as the Senators scored all 19 runs over the next five innings.
AUM cut the lead to 7-6 with four runs in the top of the fifth, with Matt Keel’s double delivering two runs and Davis Lambert’s double cutting the lead to one.
In the sixth, AUM took the lead for good on Matt Arrighi’s two run home run. It was his second of the season. AUM went on to score eight runs in the inning as Stephen Partick’s two run blast scoring the final runs of the inning. The home run for Partrick was the first of his career.
AUM was not through scoring as the pushed across two more runs in the seventh and three in the eighth to put the game out of reach with a 19-7 lead. Lee did not go easy as they managed to score a run in the seventh and three in the eighth to make the final score 19-11.
AUM had 18 hits for the game and Davis Lambert and Paul Vasquez had four each. Lambert had a career-high four RBI during the game. Arrighi finished with three RBI as did Allen Ponder. Several AUM hitters had multiple hits in the game, as eight of the nine starters recorded hits.
For Lee, Jeremy Hutslar, Elvis Sosa and Nick Utley all had two hits a piece. Sosa finished with five RBI and Utley had two.
Brandon Ware (1-1) came on in relief for Mitch Thorn who lasted three and two-thirds of an inning. Ware walked the first two batters he faced, but was able to settle down over the next two innings. He gave way to Mark Presnell who pitched the final three innings. AUM pitchers allowed a season high 10 walks in the game.
Lee starter Nick Utley kept the Senators down until the fifth inning when he had to leave the game. He gave way to Michael Oberg (6-1) who only lasted two-third of an inning allowing five hits and seven runs. It was his first loss of the season.
The loss eliminated Lee University, as they will advance to the NAIA Region XIII tournament. AUM will now play Southern Polytechnic in the final game of the day. If AUM can knock off the Runnin’ Hornets, the two teams will meet in the championship game tomorrow at 1 p.m. If SPSU wins they will be named the SSAC tournament champions and earn the automatic bid to the regional tournament that will begin May 8.
