No. 10 Auburn Blitzes Kentucky With Six-Run First Inning

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 10 Auburn took advantage of a six-run first inning and eight-run lead through two to claim the series opener 12-5 over Kentucky at Plainsman Park on a perfect evening for baseball.

Kentucky now is 24-9 overall and 6-7 in the Southeastern Conference.

The Cats could not recover from a disastrous first inning that opened with a walk and errant pickoff throw that was the first of three errors in the inning. There also was a fielding error on a ground ball, a throwing error, some tough luck in a swinging bunt and full count, bases loaded base on balls that added a run as the Tigers batted around to open the series.

By the time the Cats found their footing it was 11-2 in favor of the Tigers, who came out roaring after being run ruled earlier in the week. The Cats made the game competitive with a three-run seventh inning on the heels of terrific bullpen work from freshmen Toby Peterson and Jack Sams. The hole was too deep on Friday night but the Cats are hoping the second half of the game carries over the game two.

Luke Lawrence also extended his reached base streak to 38 games with a two-run single in the third inning.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 24-9 on the season, 6- in SEC play.
  • UK is 142-71 since the beginning of 2023.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 317-201 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • Mingione is 119-131 in SEC games.
  • Mingione now is 12-6 vs. Auburn.
  • Mingione is 26-12 vs. teams from Alabama.
• UK scored three runs in the seventh inning.
  • It’s the 35th time this season the Cats have scored three or more runs in an inning.
  • It’s the 11^th time in 13 SEC games.
• OF Jayce Tharnish went 3-for-5 with a run and RBI.
  • He had three hits, his 16^th multi-hit game of the season.
• IF Luke Lawrence has reached safely in 38 consecutive games after a third inning single.
  • He had two hits, his 14^th multi-hit game of the season and 35^th at UK.
• RHP Jack Sams was excellent out of the bullpen, tossing a career-high 2.1 innings.
  • He allowed one run on three hits.
  • He got the Cats out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth inning.
• LHP Toby Peterson made his collegiate debut.
  • He retired the only batter he faced.
• RHP Bryson Treichel made his UK debut.

ON DECK

UK faces No. 10 Auburn on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET/7 CT. The game is on SEC Network and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network/630 WLAP.