AUBURN, Ala. — No. 2 Kentucky scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a three-run lead, but the Auburn Tigers utilized three runs in the fifth and sixth innings and got four RBI from third baseman Joseph Sanders, edging the No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats, 7-5 on a perfect day at Plainsman Park.
Kentucky (19-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) dropped its second consecutive game after opening up the season 19-0, including a three-game sweep over Alabama last weekend. UK will attempt to salvage the series on Sunday, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. ET. The Wildcats are one of two SEC schools in the past three years to not be swept during a conference series.
Sunday?s game can be heard live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio), with the two-man booth of Neil Price and Dick Gabriel calling the action. Fans in Lexington can catch the action live on WLAP 630-AM and in Louisville on WKJK 1080-AM.
The Wildcats got multi-hit performances from three players, including a 2-for-3 day from Troy Frazier, highlighted by a three-run homer, his second of the year. Brian Spear and Chris Wade each added two hits, with Keenan Wiley and Sawyer Carroll each contributing a hit.
On the mound, UK struggled to quiet the hot bats and aggressive offensive approach of the Tigers, walking eight and allowing eight hits. Scott Green got the start and lasted 4 2/3 innings, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth inning for reliever Andrew Albers, who worked the final 3 1/3 innings. Green struck out four and walked five in the game, holding Auburn to three hits and allowing four runs. Albers took the loss after allowing five hits and three runs, striking out four and walking three.
Auburn starter Cory Luckie kept UK off balance for much of the day, earning the win after lasting eight innings, allowing eight hits, five runs, two walks and striking out five. For the second consecutive game, closer Bryan Woodall shut the door on UK, notching his sixth save of the season, tossing a hitless ninth.
Auburn (14-8, 2-3 SEC) got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, as Justin Hargett drew a one-out walk, promptly stealing second base. Mike Bianucci singled to center to put both runners in scoring position for Hunter Morris, who hung a sacrifice fly to centerfield for the first run of the game.
UK got on the board for the first time in the top of the fifth, taking a three-run lead after plating four runs on two hits and two Auburn fielding errors. After Chris McClendon flied out to lead off the frame, Tyler Howe drew a walk and Wade laid down a perfect bunt single to the right side of the infield. Frazier followed, boosting a home run to the left-centerfield gap, bouncing off the huge scoreboard towering above the outfield fence. Collin Cowgill drew a walk and promptly stole second, beating the throw which bounced off Matt Hall?s glove and sailed into the shallow outfield grass, allowing Cowgill to move to third. Spear ripped a hard grounder at Hall, who booted the ball into the outfield, allowing Cowgill to score and Spear to move to third.
Trailing for the first time of the series, Auburn exploded for three runs on two hits in the bottom half of the fifth. After Green got two quick outs, he loaded the bases with two walks and a single from Mike Bianucci. UK turned to Albers to get out of the jam, but the senior southpaw gave up the game-tying and go-ahead runs. Sanders cleared the bases and tied up the game with a double down the right-field line, bobbled by Frazier in right field.
With a tie game in the sixth inning, Albers allowed back-to-back singles from Hall and Mummey. Bianucci was intentionally walked to load the bases and Auburn?s slugging first baseman Hunter Morris ripped a single into right field, scoring Hall and Mummey. Sanders added his fourth RBI of the game, ripping an infield single that scored Bianucci.
The Wildcats scratched together a run in the seventh inning to cut the Auburn lead to two. Wade and Frazier led off with infield singles and Cowgill scored Wade from third with an RBI groundout.
UK will turn to the all-time record holder for career winning percentage, Greg Dombrowski on Sunday to face off with Auburn ace Luke Greinke, the Baseball America 2007 Summer Player of the Year.
