Seventh Inning Charge Lifts Auburn Over Batavia

Auburn, NY - Three seventh inning runs by the Auburn Doubledays propelled them over the Batavia Muckdogs at Falcon Park on Monday night. A walk, three singles, and a timely throwing error helped the Doubledays plate three runs, coming from two runs down and defeating the Muckdogs, 4-3.

The Doubledays got great pitching all night long, as former North Carolina teammates Colin Bates and Greg Holt held the Muckdogs to three runs on eight hits. Bates notched his first quality start of the year, giving up three runs, all in the first inning, and scattering eight hits in his six innings of work. Holt did the rest, tossing three no-hit innings en route to his first professional win.

After giving up three runs on five hits in the top of the first, the Doubledays battled back, scoring a run in the second inning on a sac fly by Connor Rowe, closing it to a 3-1 Muckdogs lead.

In the seventh inning, the Doubledays struck once more. Rick Hughes led off with a walk, followed by a base hit to right field by Caleb Ramsey, putting two men on and nobody out for Auburn. Carlos Alvarez stepped to the plate and lined a single into right field, scoring Hughes and pulling the Doubledays within a run.

After Matt Skole flew out to center for the inning's first out, Adrian Nieto singled on a hard grounder to second base, loading the bases, or so it seemed. Batavia second baseman Garrett Wittels, after fielding the grounder, tried to throw behind Ramsey at third and threw the ball away. Ramsey scored from third, Alvarez went to third and Nieto advanced to second on the throwing error. The next batter, Justin Miller, drove in Alvarez on a sac fly to center, giving the Doubledays the 4-3 lead, which they held onto for good.
The win snaps a four-game losing streak and puts Auburn a game over .500 at 16-15 on the year.

The Doubledays will be back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Williamsport for a 7:05pm game against the Crosscutters. To listen to the broadcast, fans are invited to tune into 89.1 FM in Auburn, NY or visit www.auburndoubledays.com.