February 13, 2000
BAIRD WINS 600TH AT AUBURN AS TIGERS WIN, 10-4
AUBURN‹Behind a seven run second inning, the 11th ranked Auburn Tigers defeated
Furman, 10-4, giving Auburn head coach Hal Baird his 600th career victory at
Auburn. With the three-game sweep of the Paladins, the Tigers improved to 7-0,
while Furman dropped to 2-5 overall.
"We had a big inning in the second which helped," Baird said. "Hayden (Gliemmo)
threw very well and we had some good plays defensively. We didn't only make
the routine plays, but we made great plays as well."
Baird, who will retire at the conclusion of the 2000 season has compiled a
600-308 mark in 16 seasons on the Plains.
"That's a nice milestone and I feel very good about it," Baird said.
Following a run in the top of the second by the Paladins, Auburn responded
with seven runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out, junior 1B Todd Faulkner
hit a solo home run to right field, his third of the season and second in as
many days. Four runs and seven batters later, sophomore OF Gabe Gross hit his
third homer of the season, a two-run homer over the right center field wall.
Freshman IF Jonathan Schuerholz's single in the seventh inning scored Faulkner and IF Chris Beaird, giving the Tigers a 10-2 lead. Furman scored two in the top of the eighth to complete the scoring.
The Tigers' 51 runs in the three-game series with Furman are the most runs
scored by an Auburn team in a three-game series. In 1994, Auburn scored 44 runs
against Georgia in a three-game set.
Gliemmo (2-0), who won his second consecutive start, pitched six innings,
allowing just three hits and one run, while striking out five Furman batters.
Furman's Corey Etheridge (0-2) was credited with the loss, allowing eight hits
and seven runs over six innings.
Auburn had 10 hits to Furman's eight, while the Paladin's committed seven
errors.
Auburn will entertain Mercer on Tuesday, February 15 at 3 p.m. at Plainsman Park. Following a home game against UAB at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the Tigers will travel to New Orleans to play in the three-day Winn Dixie Classic in the Louisiana Superdome, Feb. 18-20.