Four innings into Saturday’s game against Tennessee, the Auburn baseball team had a considerable lead.

Auburn had a shutout. Auburn had confidence. Auburn had momentum.

What Auburn didn’t have was any answer for UT reliever Danny Wiltz.

And Wiltz was the difference, shutting down Auburn’s offense and keeping Tennessee alive until the Volunteers’ offense finally capitalized in the 11th inning to win, 8-4.

Auburn (17-10, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) led 4-0 after the fourth inning. The Tigers made noise in the fifth, too, loading the bases against Tennessee starter Bryan Morgado.

But then UT head coach Todd Raleigh turned to Wiltz (3-0). From there, Auburn’s luck went south.

Wiltz pitched 6 2/3 innings, faced 21 batters and gave up just one hit.

“He was phenomenal,” Raleigh said.

As Wiltz piled up scoreless innings, Tennessee (16-8, 5-3 SEC) began to figure out Auburn’s pitchers. The Volunteers tied the game with three runs in the sixth.

Meanwhile, Auburn never threatened against Wirtz.

“Give Wiltz credit: He did a great job with our hitters,” Auburn head coach Tom Slater said. “We’ve really been swinging the bats well. The back half of the game tonight, we didn’t.”

Auburn’s bullpen kept the Volunteers at bay until the 11th inning. Former Central standout Bryan Woodall (0-1), AU’s bullpen ace, surrendered a two-run single to UT’s Jeff Lockwood, then gave up a two-run home run to P.J. Polk.

Wiltz slammed the door in the bottom of the inning to clinch the victory for the Vols.

Raleigh was ejected in the eighth for arguing a batter’s interference call on Andy Simunic. The call negated an apparent steal of second by Polk.

“I was upset — we had a chance to have a man on second late in a tie game,” Raleigh said. “I probably blew a gasket, but that’s how I am. It’s no big deal — I don’t have a vendetta against anybody, obviously.”

The series concludes at 3 p.m. today. Right-hander Bradley Hendrix (1-0, 3.96 ERA) will start for Auburn against Tennessee left-hander Nick Hernandez (0-1, 4.85).

The Tigers’ bullpen will be without junior right-hander Luke Greinke, who hasn’t pitched this weekend. Slater said Greinke had “issues” with his shoulder.

| 737-2561