Buentello homers for 11th time, Auburn baseball falls twice to Vandy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (auburntigers.com) – Niko Buentello hit his 11th home run of the season, but Auburn baseball fell 9-3 to No. 12 Vanderbilt in game two of a doubleheader Thursday at Hawkins Field.
“They have good arms. We knew we needed to neutralize their two and three-hole hitters,” Auburn baseball head coach Butch Thompson said. “When we did, we had success. When we didn’t, that hurt us especially in game two. That was the difference in the ball game. I commend Gabe Klobosits. I thought he threw great coming in so early. Tavo Rodriguez, being injured and coming back, he really threw great and all his velocity is back.”
After Cole Lipscomb was removed with just one way in the first, junior Gabe Klobosits took over and pitched 4.2 innings. He allowed one run with four strikeouts.
Vanderbilt took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a 2-run homer by Bryan Reynolds and a RBI single by Liam Sabino.
Reynolds finished with three RBI. Jeren Kendall had two RBI and scored three times.
The Commodores added a run in the fifth for a 4-0 lead.
John Kilichowski earned his first victory of the season. He pitched 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
Buentello hit a 3-run homer in the sixth inning to close Auburn to 4-3. It was his 11th home run of the season and gave him 55 RBI on the season – the most for an Auburn hitter since 2010.
Vandy got two in the sixth and three in the seventh to push its lead to 9-3.
Jordan Ebert had three hits. Kyler Deese doubled and walked. Octavio Rodriguez pitched the final 1.1 innings with two strikeouts.
