MONTGOMERY, Ala. — It had everything but the final out.
Georgia Southwestern pounded out 17 hits, erased deficits, built new leads and carried a four-run advantage into the eighth inning Tuesday night — only to see Auburn University at Montgomery rally late for a 15-14 walk-off win in a nonconference slugfest at the AUM Baseball Complex.
The Hurricanes fall to 12-8 overall despite one of their most explosive offensive performances of the season.
Trading Blows Early
The Warhawks struck first with five runs in the opening inning, capitalizing on early traffic and defensive miscues.
GSW answered.
Drake Harman launched a solo home run in the third to spark a three-run frame, and the Hurricanes erupted for five runs in the fourth to erase an 8-3 deficit and tie the game at 8-8.
Kelsen Johnson delivered a two-run double,
Devon Murphy added an RBI double, and
Drew Reaves brought home a run with a single before another wild pitch allowed the tying run to score.
It was the first of several momentum swings.
Wainman Stays Perfect
Evan Wainman continued his torrid stretch at the plate.
The designated hitter went 3-for-3 with two walks, a triple, a double and three RBIs Tuesday night. Over his last two games, Wainman is a perfect 5-for-5 with three walks — reaching base in all eight plate appearances.
His three-run triple in the fifth broke an 8-8 tie and pushed the Hurricanes in front for good at the time. Reaves followed with an RBI double to make it 12-8.
Harman Nears the Cycle
Harman flirted with history in the back-and-forth affair.
The senior right fielder doubled in the first, homered in the third and singled in the fourth — finishing a triple shy of the cycle. He went 3-for-5 with a walk, three runs scored and an RBI, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.
Murphy added three hits and two RBIs, while Reaves drove in three and collected three hits of his own. As a team, the Hurricanes scored 14 runs on 17 hits.
Late Swings
GSW built a 12-8 lead after five innings and added single runs in the sixth and seventh to stretch the margin to 14-10.
But the Warhawks chipped away.
A three-run eighth inning trimmed the lead to one, and after the Hurricanes were unable to add insurance in the ninth — despite a leadoff double from Wainman — Auburn Montgomery mounted one final rally.
Three hits and a pair of walks in the bottom of the ninth plated the tying and winning runs, sealing the 15-14 decision in a game that lasted more than three hours and featured 29 combined runs and 36 hits.
Moving Forward
It was a night where the offense delivered more than enough.
GSW showcased depth throughout the lineup, drawing five walks and collecting six extra-base hits. But defensive miscues — five errors — and late pitching struggles proved costly in a game that never lacked for drama.
Next Up
The Hurricanes return home to host the top-ranked team in the country, the University of Tampa, for a three-game series this weekend starting Friday at 6 p.m.
