Tigers finish off sweep of VMI

By Collin Mickle

Published: March 9, 2008

With starting second baseman Justin Hargett sidelined by a sprained ankle, Auburn had to reshuffle its infield and its batting order Sunday against VMI.

Those changes — which included slugger Mike Bianucci batting second for the first time in his career — didn’t affect the bottom line.

For the fourth consecutive game, Auburn’s offense was too much for the Keydets’ pitching, and the Tigers’ bullpen made an early lead stick. Sunday, the recipe worked out to a 6-5 Auburn victory, the Tigers’ sixth in a row.

Hargett’s injury moved regular third baseman Joseph Sanders to second, with redshirt freshman David Cunningham replacing Sanders at third.

Cunningham took advantage of the opportunity: He went 2-for-4 and scored two runs in his first career start. 

“You never know when your opportunity’s going to come,” AU head coach Tom Slater said. “We talk to our guys about that. David got his opportunity yesterday and again today.

“He played very, very well, which is always exciting to see for all the hard work these kids put in.”

Cunningham may get more opportunities in the coming days. Hargett won’t play in AU’s two-game midweek series against Appalachian State, which begins Tuesday. His status for the Tigers’ Southeastern Conference-opening series at Florida this weekend is unclear.

“We’ll see what happens going into the weekend, whether he’ll be able to play or not,” Slater said.

Auburn (10-4) trailed 3-2 after two innings, but the Tigers’ offense bounced back against VMI starter Chris Henderson (2-1).

AU tied the game at 3 in the third, then snapped a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning when Sanders’ two-out single scored Mike Bianucci from second base. Kevin Patterson followed with a single, but Henderson struck out Brian Fletcher to end the inning.

The Tigers extended their lead in the sixth against VMI reliever Chris Duty. Cunningham led off with a double, advanced to third on a Ryan Jenkins groundout and scored on a wild pitch to give AU a 5-3 lead.

Once Auburn took the lead, starter Scott Shuman (2-0) headed to the showers and the Tigers’ bullpen took over. Michael Hurst, Taylor Thompson, Evan Crawford and Bryan Woodall each pitched an inning of relief.

AU added a final run in the eighth when Cunningham hit a two-out triple and scored on a double by Jenkins.

Woodall, a former Central star, needed the extra cushion. The junior surrendered two runs in the ninth — thanks to a bloop single and a fielding error by Sanders — but rallied, striking out VMI’s David Lottman with two on and two out to earn his third save.

Tuesday’s game against Appalachian State starts at 6 p.m.

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