Colby trips up Bates 14-12

LEWISTON – Eric Roy and Jon Lord each had two home runs and three RBIs to lead the Colby College White Mules to a 14-12 baseball victory over Bates College Friday.

Brandon Irwin had a double, a home run and three RBIs while Andy Tripp added an RBI double.

For Bates, Matt Pound, Christian Galligher and John Merriman all had homers while Ben Bines had a two-run double.

Colby (7-12) 001 026 140 -14 13 4

Bates (2-19) 000 120 333 -12 12 3

Royce, Gibson (7), Deacon (7), and Roy; Weaver, Karz (6) Gwozdz (8) and Donaldson

Auburn on upswing

Auburn is hoping its seesaw season stays on the upswing.

The Tigers, a preseason Top 25 team, won their first 13 games and 16 of 17 to get the season off to a promising start for new coach Steve Renfroe.

Then came the beginning of the Southeastern Conference schedule, and Auburn was swept in consecutive series by Mississippi State, Mississippi and Georgia. That put the Tigers in desperation mode less than two months into the season.

But since starting 0-9 in the conference, the Tigers (30-12) had won 11 of their last 12 SEC games and 14 of 16 overall to climb back into the national polls.

“We’ve said all along that there’s nothing different that we’ve done,” said Renfroe, who replaced the retired Hal Baird after last season. “We haven’t coached different, we haven’t approached practice any different. I think it’s just a testament to the kids.”

Auburn plays at South Carolina this weekend, and has lost 10 straight to the Gamecocks.

“We have the chance to get back in this thing,” Renfroe said. “But we’re going to one of the toughest places in the country to play.”

Auburn, in fourth place in the SEC West at 11-10, will also be without two-way star Hayden Gliemmo.

The senior left-hander and DH, who was 7-1 with a 2.77 ERA, was forced to leave his last two starts early after reaggravating an elbow injury that sidelined him for seven weeks last season.

Gliemmo, who sprained the ulner collateral ligament in his left elbow in February 2000, was examined Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews and told to rest the elbow for an indefinite period.

“The loss of Hayden Gliemmo at this point is pretty significant,” Renfroe said.

Freshman right-handed reliever Cory Dueitt, who was 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA, took Gliemmo’s spot.

“I think it’s just a bunch of kids who are winners, and hopefully they’ll get a chance to move on,” Renfroe said. “And if they dig out of this hole, I think you’re going to see a really exciting regional team. That’s our goal.”