by
Star staff
Anniston Star
JACKSONVILLE – Auburn erased an eight-run deficit and scored 12 runs in the eighth inning as the Tigers claimed a 12-8 win over Jacksonville State to snap a two-game losing skid to the Gamecocks on Tuesday evening.
The Tigers (28-19) sent 16 batters to the plate during the 12-run eighth inning as Dan Gilevenyank hit a pair of three-run home runs and Damek Tomscha added a two-run home run. The Gamecocks used five pitchers and threw 71 pitches during the inning.
Jax State (27-22) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning after Coty Blanchard drove in two runs with a double and Paschal Petrongolo drove in two more runs to give the Gamecocks the early lead.
The Gamecocks added a run in the fourth when Stephen Bartlett stole home, and Petrongolo had a RBI double in the fifth to give JSU a 6-0 lead.
Jacksonville State added two more runs in the seventh inning after Eddie Mora-Loera drove in two runs with a single to right field as the Gamecocks built an 8-0 lead, before Auburn rallied in the eighth inning.
Cullen Wacker had four hits, while Jordan Ebert, Tomscha and Glevenyak each finished with two hits to lead Auburn's 14-hit attack.
Blanchard had his fourth career four-hit game.