Alabama 4, Auburn 3: Tigers can't hold on in Capital City Classic

Alabama took its first lead of the night with two outs in the top of the ninth, and it was enough for the Crimson Tide to defeat Auburn, 4-3, Wednesday night in Montgomery. It was the Tigers' first loss in the Capital City Classic, dropping to 5-1 in the annual event.

With the game tied 3-3 in the final inning, Alabama (6-5) was batting with two outs a runner at first. Shortstop Mikey White singled through the right side to advance center fielder Georgie Salem to third, and Auburn reliever Trey Cochran-Gill gave way to closer Terrance Dedrick. Right fielder Ben Moore worked a 3-2 count before hitting what should have been an inning-ending ground out to third, but a Connor Short throwing error allowed the go-ahead run to score.

In the bottom of the ninth, first baseman Keegan Thompson led off with a looking strikeout, and left fielder Jordan Ebert reached on a walk. With JJ Shaffer pinch running, shortstop Damon Haecker advanced him on a ground out to first. The game ended when Shaffer was tagged out trying to move up on an Anfernee Grier ground ball to third.

Grier, the freshman right fielder, went 0-for-4. It was his first hitless game in an Auburn uniform.

The Tigers (6-6) managed just three hits and left eight men on base -- five in scoring position. Second baseman Dan Glevenyak (1-for-2, two RBI) opened the scoring with a two-run homer, and after Alabama tied it, catcher Blake Austin (1-for-4, one RBI) scored Glevenyak with a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth. Haecker (1-for-4) led off the game with a single.

Alabama pitchers walked five batters and the Crimson Tide committed three errors, but Auburn couldn't take advantage.

Cochran-Gill (0-1) took the loss, giving up one unearned run on two hits and a walk in 2 1/3 relief innings. Justin Camp got the start for the Tigers, and he allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out four in 6 1/3 innings.

Thomas Burrows (2-0) pitched three innings of relief and picked up the win for the Tide. Burrows gave up just one walk and struck out three.

Auburn returns to the Plains for a three-game series against Mercer this weekend. Senior righty Dillon Ortman is scheduled to pitch Friday night, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. CT.

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
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Alabama............. 000 200 101 -  4 11  3
Auburn.............. 002 001 000 -  3  3  2
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