University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Auburn
Auburn Shutouts Vols, 3-0
March 22, 2002 | Baseball
March 22, 2002
Knoxville, Tenn. -- Ben Riley struck out a season-high 11 batters, but it was the No. 19 Auburn Tigers that got the clutch hits as they defeated the Tennessee Volunteers, 3-0, in the first of three games at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The win extended Auburn's winning streak over the Vols to 12 games as they improved to 19-5 overall and 3-1 in Southeastern Conference play. Tennessee fell to 12-14 and 0-4 in league action for the first time since 1987.
Auburn's Levale Speigner (5-2) tossed a four-hit shutout as he went the distance for the first time this season. After allowing three hits in the first three innings, he shut down the Vols for the remainder of the game, giving up just one hit while walking two. He finished strong by retiring the final eight hitters, including striking out the last batter to give him six strikeouts in the contest.
Riley (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season as he was touched for three runs (two earned) on six hits in a season-high eight innings. Joey Andrews worked the ninth, striking out one.
Dennis Gomez had two of the Vols four hits as both Walter Sevilla and Hal Bibee saw their respective 11-game hitting streaks come to an end.
Auburn took a 1-0 lead in the fifth on a throwing error by the catcher, Bibee. Sean Gamble, who walked and advanced to third on a walk and a ground out, scored after Bibee's throw down to third on a pick off play sailed past Matt Sternberg into left field with two out.
Auburn extended its lead to 3-0 in the sixth as it collected four hits in the frame. Bobby Huddleston reached on a bloop hit to center while Scott Schade singled to left two batters later. Both would score on a two-out infield single by Jonathan Schuerholz and Gamble's base hit to left, respectively.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.
