April 19, 2014
AUBURN, ALA. – Junior left-hander Jordan Montgomery hurled a four-hit complete game for the Gamecocks but a four-run first inning that included a three-run homer from Blake Austin lifted Auburn to a 4-2 win over sixth ranked South Carolina in the series opener on Saturday afternoon at Plainsman Park. South Carolina is 28-10 and 8-8 in the SEC with Auburn now 22-17 and 7-9 in league play. Game of the doubleheader is set for 5 p.m. ET. It will be televised live on CBS Sports Network and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
Auburn starter Dillon Ortman also went the distance and limited the Gamecocks to a pair of runs on seven hits with no walks and two strikeouts. He is 7-2 on the year. Montgomery took the loss and is 5-3 on the year. He allowed four runs on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
The Tigers got all the runs they needed in the bottom of the first. J.J. Shaffer led off with a walk, Damon Haecker reached base on a fielder’s choice as Shaffer beat DC Arendas’ throw to second and Jordan Ebert bunted for a base hit to load the bases for the Tigers. Damek Tomscha drove in Shaffer with a RBI groundout and Austin followed with a three-run homer to left field, his second homer of the season.
South Carolina got on the scoreboard with a run in the third inning. Connor Bright led off with a base hit up the middle and advanced to third on a one-out single from Tanner English. Bright would score on Elliott Caldwell’s sacrifice fly to left field cutting the deficit to three runs.
The Gamecocks added another run in the sixth inning to cut the lead to a pair of runs. English led off with a double down the left field line and scored on Caldwell’s RBI base hit to right-center.
That would be it for Carolina though although the Gamecocks tried to rally in the ninth. Arendas led off with a base hit and Kyle Martin singled with one out to give Carolina a pair of runners. Ortman however stymied the Gamecocks to close the game out as Grayson Greiner grounded into a fielder’s choice and Brison Celek grounded out to short to end the contest.
South Carolina outhit Auburn 7-4 in the loss. Arendas and English each had two hits to lead the Gamecocks. Ebert went 2-for-4 to lead Auburn at the plate.
