Offense gets the early bird special at Falcon Park

AUBURN, NY - The Doubledays entered tonight's game averaging 2.4 runs per game. By the time the second inning was out, they'd shattered that mark.

Auburn and Williamsport went back and forth through the first three innings in front of 1,403 fans at Falcon Park, and the Doubledays emerged victorious by a score of 5-3. Both starting pitchers were out of the game by the end of the fourth, and though relievers Deion Williams and Delvy Francisco settled things down after that point, the damage was long done.

The Doubledays were powered by five 2014 draft picks making their professional debuts. In the second inning, Pepperdine's Austin Davidson knocked in East Tennessee State's Chris Riopedre from second with a single off Williamsport starter Feliberto Sanchez (0-2) to tie the game at 2. In the third, Pepperdine's Brian Langlois doubled, Riopedre knocked him in two batters later, and Davidson doubled to drive in the fifth Doubledays run of the night. Old contributors made their presence known as well. Catcher Raudy Read drove RBI doubles in each of his first two at-bats, while Jose Marmolejos and Drew Vettleson both reached base in their first two plate appearances.

Auburn pitching wasn't quite as strong, at least early on. Luis Reyes allowed three runs on six hits over four, walking two and striking out five. He ran into trouble in the second after walking Wilmer Oberto and sending him to second on a wild pitch. Three batters later, Deivi Grullon sent Oberto and Herlis Rodriguez home to put the Crosscutters up 2-1. Later, with a 4-2 lead in the third, Reyes gave up an RBI single to Oberto with Cord Sandberg on third to cut the Doubledays lead to 4-3.

Two Doubledays relievers shut the door after Reyes came out of the game. Williams (1-0) came into the game in the top of the fifth and was brilliant, going four shutout innings while allowing just two hits and a walk while whiffing three. Gary Cathcart brought in righthander Jake Joyce for the ninth, who delivered his first save of the season.

After sweeping the Crosscutters, the Doubledays welcome the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to town for a two-game set. RHP Anderson Martinez (0-0, 6.23) goes for Auburn against Mahoning Valley RHP Anthony Vizcaya (0-0, 2.25). First pitch is scheduled for 5:05. It's Little Abners Club Sunday; all kids signed up for the free Little Abners Club receive free admission to the game, a free fruit shoot courtesy of Pepsi, and a free ice cream bar. Two Doubledays players will be available to sign autographs before the game, and kids will be able to run the bases after the game. Tickets can be purchased at auburndoubledays.com, by phone at (315) 255-2489, or at the Falcon Park box office.