Gators power past Auburn

AUBURN -- Much like the night before, this one was over shortly after it started.

Smith allowed 1 run in 2.0 IP out of the bullpen.

Florida jumped on Auburn with four runs in the inning first including a 3-run homerun by Vickash Ramjit and cruised to a 10-1 win Friday night at Plainsman Park.

After being shutout on just three hits in Thursday’s series-opening 6-0 loss, Auburn managed one unearned run on two hits against the Gators Friday. The Tigers, which came into the series leading the SEC in hitting, have five hits in 59 at bats in two games against UF’s pitching.

“The thing that’s very important is to settle the game down and we weren’t able to settle it down,” Auburn coach John Pawlowski said. “The first inning, we struggled and they were able to put some big hits on the board. We could just never get anything going after that.”

Dan Glevenyak was benched in the second inning after being thrown out when he failed to slide trying to steal second base. He was replaced at shortstop by Mitchell Self.

“You gotta play hard, gotta play hard,” Pawlowski said. “I’ll talk to him about it.”

The loss drops Auburn to 29-26 overall and 12-17 in the SEC. The Tigers have clinched 10th place in the SEC and will play the No. 3 seed Tuesday at 4:30 pm in the opening round of the 2012 SEC Tournament.

Auburn starter Daniel Koger (3-5) lasted just 2.0 innings allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits. Slade Smith held Florida to one run in 2.0 innings before the Gator struck for three against Dillon Ortman.

Auburn closed out the game with Ethan Wallen and Rocky McCord holding Florida scoreless for the final 3.1 innings.

Florida starter Brian Johnson (6-4) earned the win holding Auburn to one unearned run on two hits in 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts.

Mike Zunino hit a solo homerun in the third inning, his 15th of the year, and Preston Tucker added a 2-run blast in the sixth as the Gators improved to 40-15 and 18-11 in the SEC.

Game three of the series and the final game of the regular season is set for Saturday at 1 pm. Auburn is 0-3 this season after losing the first two games of a 3-game SEC series.

“Guys have to fight,” Pawlowski said. “We’ve got to come back tomorrow and be more competitive on the mound and more competitive at the plate.”