Auburn takes rubber match from Williamsport
Jonathan Jones singled to centerfield off Cutters' starter Mario Hollands in the fifth to break a 2-2 tie. The hit scored Markus Brisker, who had started the rally with a double to left field. Gustavo Pierre followed with a single to left that chased Hollands from the game.
Auburn would add three more hits in the inning off reliever Craig Fritsch. Matt Nuzzo singled to centerfield to plate two runs, giving the D-Days a commanding 6-2 lead. Oliver Dominguez capped the rally with a single off first baseman Ryne White's glove, bringing home Nuzzo with the fifth run of the inning.
The Doubledays had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second when Dominguez hit his third homerun of the season. The Cutters answered back with a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings off D-Days' starter Misual Diaz. The right-hander, in his second start in an Auburn uniform, went five innings and threw his final pitch with the game tied. He picked up his first win after the D-Days' offensive fifth.
Auburn added four more runs in the sixth inning off Fritsch. Gustavo Pierre chipped in with a two-run triple to right field and Marcus Knecht helped the cause with an RBI double to right.
Brandon Berl pitched in relief of Diaz, eating up 2.2 innings while giving up one unearned run on two hits. Zach Outman recorded the final out of the eighth inning before struggling in the ninth. With the Doubledays' leading 11-3, he allowed one run on three hits and a walk against five batters in the final inning.
Travis Garrett got the call out of the pen and ended the game by getting two outs on one pitch. With the bases loaded, Garrett induced Miguel Alvarez to line out to second baseman Oliver Dominguez who promptly threw to Matt Johnson to double off Edgar Duran at second base.
The Doubledays (25-34) head to Jamestown tomorrow to take on the Jammers in a three game series. Sean Nolin will make his fourth start for Auburn while Mike Ojala will go for Jamestown.