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April 1, 2000
AUBURN- LSU's Mike Fontenot and Wally Pontiff each hit home runs in the sixth inning to rally the 11th-ranked Fighting Tigers to a 12-10 victory over sixth-ranked Auburn, today. LSU improved to 21-10 overall and 7-4 in the SEC, while Auburn dropped to 28-8 overall and 7-5 in the conference.
Trailing 8-6 entering the sixth, LSU posted six runs on seven hits. Fontenot hit a one-out solo homer cutting the Auburn lead to one. With two outs, Brad Hawpe singled and scored when Blair Barbier followed with a double to left-center field, tying the game at eight apiece.
LSU took the lead for good when Pontiff followed Barbier with a home run to right field. The home run was Pontiff's second in as many innings, after leading off the fifith with a solo shot to right field.
Auburn freshman Brett Burnham hit a no-out grand slam home run in the bottom of the fifith inning, to give the Tigers a short-lived 8-6 lead. The home run was Burnham's first of his career.
Auburn scored two more runs in the sixth, cutting the LSU advantage to 12-10, but could not score in the ramaining three innings as LSU reliever Shane Youman allowed just one Auburn batter to reach base.
Reliever Heath McMuray (1-1) was credited with the win for the Fighting Tigers, allowing six runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings of relief.
Brandon Mayfield (4-1) picked up his first loss on the season for Auburn. The senior gave six runs on seven hits including three home runs in 2.1 innings of work.
LSU received three hits from Hawpe, Jeff Lipari, and Ray Wright. Wright added four RBI, with Pontiff chipping in three. Catcher Brad Cresse increased his career-best hitting-streak to 23 games with a single in the third.
Auburn's top five in the batting order: Dominic Rich, Mailon Kent, Gabe Gross, Todd Faulkner, and Burnham each had two hits. Burnham had four RBI, while Kent added three runs and two RBI.
Auburn returns to action Tuesday at Plainsman Park with a non-conference game against Mercer at 6 pm in Plainsman Park. The Tigers will resume SEC play next weekend at Ole Miss.
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