AUM News
Michael Dugan played a huge part in the Warhawks' doubleheader split with No. 5 Embry-Riddle.
Michael Dugan played a huge part in the Warhawks' doubleheader split with No. 5 Embry-Riddle.
Baseball - Fri. Jan. 27, 2012
Box Score 1 Box Score 2
MONTGOMERY, Ala. ---- Four-year starting catcher Michael Dugan ripped his first collegiate home run in his home ballpark in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the No. 13 Auburn University at Montgomery earned a 2-1 walk-off victory over No. 5 Embry-Riddle in the opening game of the doubleheader between the two school's on Friday. In the nightcap, the Eagles slugged past the Warhawks, 15-1.

Dugan led AUM (1-1) at the plate, finishing 2-for-2, with a homer, double and a walk. Fellow senior Cody Hall kept the Eagles' bats in check, allowing just three hits in 5 2/3 innings, while striking out 10.

"I have to admit I was thinking about it on the on-deck circle," Dugan said of the game-winning home run. "What is crazy is the shadows were starting to set in and he blew the first pitch by me. He had a funny delivery, but gave me a good pitch and I was able to put a good swing on it. I was joking with one of the guys before the game about how one of my personal goals for the year was to hit a home run in my home park. It definitely felt good to get that out of the way and to do it in that manner was even better."

The Warhawks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, after Dugan started a two-out rally with a double. Senior Rusty Todd followed with a hard-hit ball to second base, but ERAU's JT Warmoth was unable to handle the ball, allowing courtesy runner Nathan Brown to score the first run of the game.

AUM went to the top of the seventh with the one-run advantage, but the Eagles lined consecutive doubles off senior Michael Carden to tie the score at 1-1. Following a single and an intentionally walk, Warhawks' skipper Q.V. Lowe called for senior Tyler Dent (1-0), who needed just three pitches to get the ground ball the team needed, a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Adam Cellini.

"Dent is just tough," Dugan said of Dent getting the double play to end the Eagles' rally. "He has real good sink on his ball and I Coach Lowe knows that. He is so good at getting ground balls and he got the guy to roll over it. We got a great play by Logan (Remson) picking the ball at first base. He (Dent) came in and did what he always does."

Eagles' reliever Robbie Ratliff threw only six pitches in the contest, taking the loss as a result of the Dugan walk-off. Starter Kevin Maloney worked 6.0 innings, allowing just one unearned run and three hits.

For AUM, Hall needed just 77 pitches during the outing, but earned the no-decision. Todd and fellow senior Hunter Cross each also had hits for the Warhawks.

In game two of the twin bill, the Eagles erupted for 15 runs on 19 hits and starter Adam Paulenco allowed just one hit in five innings, as Embry-Riddle (1-1) rolled the Warhawks to salvage a split.

AUM's lone run came on a solo home run by junior Adam Russell in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Junior Blake Woo (0-1) was touched with the loss, allowing four runs in 2 1/3 innings. Senior Nathan Brown and Daniel Selph tossed the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing just one run. Senior Will Ruffin and juniors Branden Kelley and Eran Franks also made their first appearances of the season on the mound in the loss.

The majority of the damage was done by the 3-4-5 hitters for the Eagles, Chris Page, Ian MacGeorge and Callahan Hood, who combined to finish 9-for-14 with five runs scored and nine driven in.

"In any sport, you are going to have days when things just don't go your way," Dugan said of the Warhawks' disappointing performance in game two. "From the fourth inning on it seemed like everything they hit found and hole and we couldn't get them out. But moving forward, we just have to remember that this is just one day. We play 55 games in a season and there is a reason they (Embry-Riddle) are the No. 5 team in the nation. I think we showed in the first game we can hang with any team in the country."

AUM will return to action on Saturday, when it hosts Tennessee Wesleyan at 4 p.m.