Clemson vows to shake off dramatic loss
Clemson coach Jack Leggett’s reaction to Auburn’s dramatic, 11-10 comeback victory was brief and to the point.
Second baseman Mike Freeman had a similar reaction.
“The only thing we can do,” Freeman said, “is flush it.”
Clemson went from the driver’s seat in this NCAA regional to behind a tidal wave of momentum that Auburn will try to carry into tonight’s game at Plainsman Park.
“I don’t think it will be that difficult,” Freeman said. “Our guys have been there before.”
The majority of Clemson’s players have, in fact, been in this situation before – only they were in Auburn’s position. Clemson, which hosted a regional at its home park last season, lost the second game to Oklahoma State, 3-2. After defeating Tennessee Tech in the losers’ bracket championship, the Tigers routed the Cowboys on the same day before advancing to the Super Regionals with a 6-5 victory over Oklahoma State.
“We’re going to bounce back,” Freeman said. “We’ve been doing it all year. We’re going to come out ready to play tomorrow.”
Who’s pitching?
Both Leggett and Auburn coach John Pawlowski had little to offer when asked about whom they would throw for today’s winner-take-all championship game.
Their options aren’t exactly blossoming.
This is nothing new for Pawlowski, who didn’t have a set of three solid weekend starters all season. Auburn sometimes threw a variety of relievers at opponents for its Saturday’s games, an arrangement Pawlowski referred to as “Johnny WholeStaff.”
Auburn, despite playing four games in three days, should have most of its pitchers available, aside from its four previous starters and Bradley Hendrix, who tossed 5 1/3 innings of relief in the Tigers’ 17-8 victory over Southern Miss.
“We still have some arms available for tomorrow,” Pawlowski said. “Someone is going to have to step up for us.”
Among Pawlowski’s options are: RHP Jon Luke Jacobs (0-2, 6.06 ERA), RHP Dexter Price (3-0, 4.39) and LHP Sean Ray (2-3, 3.41).
Pawlowski wouldn’t even rule out Austin Hubbard, who threw 76 pitches in 4 2/3 innings Sunday night.
“If he tells me he can get a hitter out tomorrow, he may be available,” Pawlowski said. “That is going to be up to him.”
Leggett, like Pawlowski, said he would have to evaluate his options before announcing a starter, but it’s likely he’ll go with freshman right-hander Dominic Leone. Leone, who is 2-1 with a 4.69 ERA, is the only Clemson pitcher who hasn’t already started in the regional and has more than three starts this season.
Making history
Hunter Morris didn’t just put Auburn ahead for good with his fourth-inning grand slam against Southern Miss on Sunday.
The junior slugger, who could very well be drafted in tonight’s first round of the MLB Draft, etched his name in the Auburn record books with his 23rd home run of the season, the most by any player in program history.
“The best feeling about it is how it swung the momentum of the game,” Morris said. “To go from being down one to up three was huge. I’d say it was the biggest home run I’ve hit all year. Not only to break the record, but the situation given made it that much more meaningful.“
Moving on up
Leftfielder Brian Fletcher put himself in elite company as well, when his first-inning home run, the 49th of his career, put him in a tie for third with Auburn legend Frank Thomas for career home runs.
Fletcher, who will also likely leave after his junior season, and Thomas have the most career home runs for Auburn players in their first three years.
Josh Etheredge (1995-98) has the most in Auburn history with 59 and Todd Faulkner (1998-01) is in second with 50.
Tickets, please
Auburn officials said there are 200 terrace seats and 200 student tickets available for tonight’s championship game. Normal chair-back seats are sold out.
Tickets cannot be purchased online, only at the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum ticket office. The office will open at 8 a.m. Central Standard Time.
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