First inning surge leads Doubledays past Spikes

STATE COLLEGE, P.A. - The Auburn Doubledays (40-27) scored seven runs in the first inning on Monday, routing the State College Spikes (31-35), 12-1, in the first game of a season ending 10-game road trip. The 12 runs matches the season high for runs scored in a game this summer for Auburn.

The Doubledays sent 12 men to the plate in the first inning, as their seven runs came on six hits, two walks, and one hit batsman. Third baseman Carlos Lopez delivered the biggest blow of the frame, blooping a three-run single into shallow center field with two outs. In fact, six of the seven runs scored after two outs had been made, and only one of the hits in the inning was an extra-base hit. The seven runs also matches a season high for runs scored by Auburn in one inning this summer.

The Doubledays stretched their lead to 9-0 in the second inning. A leadoff triple by RF Brandon Miller was followed by a double to left by LF Estarlin Martinez. Martinez then moved to third on a groundout to second, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field. Auburn had three sacrifice flies in the game, as the team's 10th run, which was scored in the top of the fifth, also came in on a sac fly.

State College scored its lone run in the bottom of the fifth. Right fielder Jesus Vasquez hit a double to begin the inning. He was pushed to third on a groundout to short, and scored on a groundout to third. The Doubledays got that run back in the sixth when 2B Mike McQuillan drew a walk with the bases loaded, giving McQuillan his second RBI of the game and his 15th of the season.

The final Auburn run came in the top of the ninth. First baseman Shawn Pleffner sent a ball over the right field wall for his second homerun of the summer. The shot came with two outs and no one on base, and capped a three-hit night for Pleffner. The Doubledays totaled 16 hits in the game, two shy of their season high.

Pitching wise three hurlers combined to limit an opponent to just three hits for the second straight night for Auburn. It was RHP Pedro Encarnacion (5-1) who got the start and the win, going six innings and allowing one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out four. LHP Jack McGeary pitched the seventh and eighth without allowing any hits, and LHP Bryan Harper allowed one hit while pitching a scoreless ninth. RHP Jason Creasy (0-5) suffered the loss for the Spikes. He lasted just 0.2 innings, being charged with five earned runs on two hits and two walks.

The Doubledays continue their three-game series with the Spikes on Tuesday August 28. Auburn will send LHP Nick Lee (1-1) to the mound for his 10th start of the summer. He will square off against LHP Joely Rodriguez (3-2) for State College. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm. All Doubledays road games can be heard on WAUB 98.1FM and 1590AM, and online at www.fingerlakesdailynews.com by clicking on the WAUB stream under the "listen" tab.