Troy University Athletics
Trojans fall to Auburn
2/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
AUBURN, Ala.- The Tigers wasted no time on jumping on the Trojans pitching staff with a five run first inning to beat Troy 11-3.
Junior Ryan Ellison (0-1) didn't make it past the first inning as he had trouble getting the Auburn batters out. Ellison walked the first two batters before issuing back-to-back singles to the next two batters before giving up a double and another single as Auburn took a 5-0 early lead.
The Tigers added two more in the third when Mike Bianucci homered to center field and Bruce Edwards doubled to right field and later scored on a Ross Smith triple making it 7-0.
Taylor Thompson (1-0) had a solid outing for Auburn going four innings giving up four hits and two runs. Thompson also struck out four.
Getting behind early is something that the Trojans have done several times already this season.
"We have to quit getting down early," head coach Bobby Pierce said. "We can't make it a habit because against a good team comebacks don't happen too often."
The Trojans got on base several times but could never get the runners around to score. The Trojans left the bases loaded in the third and stranded a total of 11 runners on the night.
Troy got on the board in the fourth inning when Matt Tanzi led off with a walk and Kevin Weidlich hit his second home run of the season to right field making the score 7-2.
Auburn answered right back when Eric Skinner singled and Bruce Edwards walked. Skinner scored on a wild pitch and Edwards scored on a sacrifice hit making the score 9-2. The Tigers plated two more runs in the fifth extending their lead to 11-2.
Troy put another run on the board when Weidlich led off the eighth with a single and later scored on Ben Wood's RBI single to left field.
"You have to give a lot of credit to Auburn for the way they played today," Pierce said. "We have a tough weekend ahead of us so we need to get back and get ready to play."
Kevin Weidlich continued to have the hot bat going 2-for-4 with two RBI and Brett Pierce was also 2-for-4 at the plate.
Troy returns to action this weekend in Dothan, Ala. When they host the Screentech Wiregrass Baseball Classic.
The field includes Indiana, Southern Miss, and Georgia Southern.
Troy plays Indiana Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
