May 29, 1999

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - It took Auburn 21 years to learn the value of home field advantage.

Hosting an NCAA Regional for the first time since 1978, the Tigers were inspired by their home crowd for three runs in the ninth inning in their 8-6 comeback win over Winthrop on Saturday.

"I now understand the benefits of hosting a regional," coach Hal Baird said. "There is no doubt the home field and the home crowd was a significant part of this game."

NCAA officials stopped the game in the middle of the second inning because of a looming threat of dangerous weather, and even though it never rained the delay lasted two hours and 32 minutes. That cut into the crowd, but at least 2,000 fans stuck around to see Gabe Gross hit a two-run single in the ninth to complete Auburn's comeback.

Trailing 6-5 in the top of the ninth, the Tigers (45-16) had to scratch their way to victory. Todd Faulkner led off the inning with a single before giving way to pinch runner John Tyler. Derek Reif beat out his bunt and Tyler advanced to third when the throw to first was wild. Tyler then scored on Dominc Rich's game-tying single to right.

Winthrop lifted starter David Steffler in favor of reliever Aaron Sundsmo, the winning pitcher in the Eagles' first-round win over Tulane. Sundsmo struck out Mailon Kent for the first out of the inning, then intentionally walked Casey Dunn to load the bases.

That set the stage for Gross, who sliced a liner over the head of first baseman Josh Ury to give Auburn the 8-6 lead.

"The pitch was low and inside and I just went with it," said Gross. "I didn't know if it was going to get over the first baseman's head. I have to thank the grounds crew for making the ground hard."

Winthrop (40-22) moved into the loser's bracket for a late game against top-seeded Tulane. The winner of that game goes against Auburn in Sunday's final.

"Obviously, this is a tough loss, an emotional loss," said Winthrop coach Joe Hudak. "I thought we played hard and played very well. We have to put this game behind us and prepare in a short period of time for Tulane."

After the rain delay, Auburn chose not to send starter Chris Bootcheck back out to the mound and went with its No. 3 pitcher, Hayden Gliemmo. After a shaky first inning - Gliemmo hit Todd Friedman and gave up two hits in Winthrop's three-run second inning - he took control of the game.

Gliemmo (13-6) baffled the Eagles with his change-up the rest of the way, striking out 12 - six of which came on called third strikes. He ended the game by striking out Ury.

Gliemmo allowed five hits, with no earned runs and no walks over eight innings. Bootcheck will pitch in Sunday's final.

Auburn trailed 6-2 until the seventh, when Kent hit a two-run triple and later scored on Dunn's RBI groundout to make it 6-5.

Steffler (9-4) gave up eight runs on 13 hits. He struck out five.