One month ago, in Auburn’s SEC home-opening series against Vanderbilt, Gillikin came to the plate in the ninth inning with the bases loaded, the game tied and a chance to send the Tigers to a big series win. Instead, the junior outfielder struck out to end the inning — and Auburn went on to lose the game in extra frames.
He kept telling himself he wouldn’t let it happen again.
So when Gillikin walked to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning of a tie game Friday night against Georgia, he knew he had to come through for his team.