March 22, 2003
Lexington, Ky. –
In a game that saw four runs cross the plate on balks, Auburn first baseman Karl Amonite belted a grand slam over the wall in left center field in the top of the seventh inning to break open a 5-3 game, as the Tigers downed the Bat Cats for the second consecutive day, 10-3. Javon Moran started the Auburn half of the inning by reaching on a Kentucky error. After Tug Hulett and Bobby Huddleston earned consecutive walks, UK reliever Mark Galvin induced a pop up to short, but Amonite’s blast to the opposite field blew the game open. Auburn put a run on the board in each of the final six innings.
Kentucky starter Heath Castle (1-2) threw six quality innings, allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits while striking out seven Tigers, but it wasn’t enough as the Cats struggled to score runners, stranding nine on the base paths. Spencer Graeter was a bright spot for the Bat Cat offense, collecting three hits in four at-bats. Gordon Tyler and Brad Pickrell had two hits each for UK, who racked up 11 total hits as a team. Amonite was 3-for-5 for the Tigers with four RBI and three runs scored. Scott Schade was 3-for-5 as well. Levale Speigner (6-0) picked up his Southeastern Conference-leading sixth win in relief for Auburn.
Auburn got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning, scoring two unearned runs. Hulett doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a Huddleston fly out. Hulett came in to score on a Castle balk after Amonite reached base on a Kentucky error. Amonite would later score on Castle’s second balk of the frame. Kentucky came right back in its half of the fourth, also getting a run on a balk by Auburn starter Arnold Hughey. The Cats chased Hughey from the mound when Jake Kungl doubled to the left field corner, scoring Tyler, who had reached first on his second hit of the afternoon to start the frame.
Auburn scored again in the fifth on a RBI double from Hulett, to score Moran. The Tiger rally was thwarted when Huddleston hit a deep drive to center that UK center fielder Casey Gilvin leaped and caught at the wall. The Cats would tie the contest again at 3-3 in the bottom half of the inning when Graeter led off with a single and later scored on a ground ball double play.
The two teams will wrap up a three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium. That game is slated for a 1 p.m. EST start. Seth Stanley (1-2) will take the hill for the Cats and will be opposed by Colby Paxton (2-1) for the Tigers.
— UK —
