Kettleers' Dynamic Duo Gets Job Done for LSU Tigers

Dirks and Hollander Shine in Victory Over Auburn

March 27, 2005

BATON ROUGE -- Freshman Michael Hollander delivered a game-tying two-run single in the fifth and displayed tremendous defensive play to help sophomore Clay Dirks through a complete-game effort as No. 3 LSU registered its 10th come-from-behind win of the season, 6-3, over Auburn at Alex Box Stadium on Saturday.

The Tigers improved to 19-5 overall and 4-1 in Southeastern Conference play. The Plainsmen dropped to 18-8 overall and 2-3 in league play.

The series concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday. LSU junior left-hander Greg Smith (4-1, 2.01) will take the mound in the rubber game against Auburn sophomore southpaw Josh Blake (2-2, 5.40).

LSU's Ryan Patterson and Clay Harris extended their hitting streaks to 13 games, and Bruce Sprowl went 2-for-3 with a run scored in his first game back since suffering a broken finger on March 6.

Dirks (6-0) maintained his perfect record, notching his sixth win of the season with his third career complete game. The left-hander scattered seven hits, allowed three runs and struck out five while walking none.

It was his first complete game since firing nine innings in a win at Auburn on April 3 of last season.

AU starter Josh Sullivan (4-2) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) in six innings of work.

Three of the LSU runs were unearned as two AU errors proved to be costly.

Auburn manufactured the game's first run, taking advantage of a leadoff double by Karl Amonite in the second. Amonite moved over to third on a groundout by Josh Bell and then came into score on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Ben Sprague.

After working two perfect frames in the third and fourth, Dirks surrendered a homer to Josh Bell leading off the fifth. Bell deposited the offering deep over the left field bleachers to give Auburn a 2-0 advantage.

The Tigers broke through in the fifth, erasing the deficit and taking a 4-2 lead. Matt Liuzza started the rally with his third double of the season. The next three LSU batters reached base, concluding with a clutch two-run single by Hollander, which knotted the game at two apiece.

"It was nice to come up with a timely hit because we haven't been doing that lately," said Hollander.

Stavinoha's run-scoring double came in a two-run eighth, which gave the Tigers a 6-2 advantage.

Despite allowing an RBI single to Bell in the ninth, Dirks finished off the game by deflecting a groundball to Hollander, who fittingly fired on the run to retire Sprague.

For Hollander, it was his fifth assist of the day and one of four plays that involved a diving stop or difficult play in the hole.

"He (Hollander) got the one hit and really quadrupled his focus but really displayed tremendous defense," said head coach Smoke Lava. "I actually thought last night, we hit the ball better than they did, and today, they swung the bats better than we did."

LSU 6, Auburn 3 (Mar 26, 2005 at Baton Rouge, La.)
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Auburn.............. 010 010 001 - 3 7 2 (18-8, 2-3 SEC)
LSU.................. 000 040 02X - 6 8 0 (19-5, 4-1 SEC)
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Pitchers: Auburn - Sullivan, J.; Mullins(7); Shore(8). LSU - Dirks.
Win-Dirks(6-0) Loss-Sullivan, J.(4-2) T-2:08 A-7341
HR AU - Bell (5).
Actual attendance: 3,208
Mullins faced 2 batters in the 8th.