LEXINGTON, Ky. — Auburn continued its balanced attack against Kentucky as every Tiger starter tallied at least one hit for the second consecutive night in a 13-6 victory over the Wildcats at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky will try to salvage the series on Saturday when the two squads square off at 1 p.m. EDT at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Junior UK preseason All-American right-hander Greg Dombrowski (5-2, 5.21 ERA) takes the mound for the Wildcats, while Auburn counters with sophomore righty Bryan Woodall (2-2, 4.59 ERA).
In order for the Wildcats to qualify for the upcoming SEC Tournament, to be held next Wednesday through Sunday in Hoover, Ala., Kentucky must win Saturday, coupled with two wins by Vanderbilt against LSU and a Tennessee loss to Florida in Gainesville. Vanderbilt and LSU’s Friday contest was not concluded at press time, however Florida posted a 20-2 win against Tennessee to keep UK’s hopes alive.
The game Saturday will be carried live on the Big Blue Sports Network – WLAP 630-AM locally – with Neil Price. The game will also be televised by BBSN locally on CWKYT (Insight-Lexington channel 5) and in Kentucky and Alabama on Fox Sports South. Veteran play-by-play man Dick Gabriel will be joined by former long-time UK head coach Keith Madison in the booth for Saturday’s action.
The Tigers (31-24, 10-19 Southeastern Conference) again used big innings early in the game as the key to their victory. Auburn scored eight of its 13 runs in the opening two innings and the Wildcats (33-19-1, 12-16-1) were never able to regroup.
Starting Auburn pitcher Taylor Thompson (5-2) earned his fifth win of the season, pitching five innings and allowing four runs. Relievers Johnny Thompson and Chris Dennis closed out the game by allowing just two runs over the final four innings and combining to strike out six batters.
The top four batters in Kentucky’s order accounted for more than half of the team’s 11 hits on the day, as center fielder Antone DeJesus and second baseman Brian Spear, along with left fielder Keenan Wiley each tallied multi-hit games. Designated hitter Tyler Howe had two RBI for the Wildcats.
The Tigers scored three runs in their first at-bat before the Wildcats responded with two of their own in the bottom of the opening frame. DeJesus singled to second base to open the inning and Spear, followed with a walk, setting the UK single-season school record for walks with 49. Sean Coughlin singled through the right side to score DeJesus before Mike Brown reached by way of a fielder’s choice that allowed Spear to cross home plate and cut UK’s deficit to one, 3-2.
Auburn added five runs in the second, highlighted by freshman Robert Brooks’ three-run double deep down the right field line.
Kentucky scored a run in the bottom of the fourth as Howe walked with one out and came around to score on a single up the middle by DeJesus.
The Tigers continued their hot hitting in the fifth with three more runs. A two-run single by left fielder Luke Grienke was the offensive spark in that frame.
UK starter Andrew Albers lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on just six hits with only one of those runs being earned. He was credited with the loss to fall to 6-5 on the year.
Kentucky responded with a single run in the bottom of the fifth as Coughlin drew a base on balls to begin the inning and scored as Howe reached base on a fielder’s choice to narrow the Auburn lead to 11-4, but that would be as close as Kentucky would come.
Reliever Dewayne Oxford toiled 2 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs and striking out one-third of the 12 batters he faced. The trio of Tommy Warner, Clint Tilford and Brock Baber combined to pitch the remainder of the game for the Wildcats, allowing just two runs over that span and not walking an Auburn batter.
The Tigers have accounted for 31 runs and 15 hits in the two games of the series, playing errorless ball over the two-day stretch.
