Dancing in the Rain: Kentucky Endures in Extra-Inning Victory

AUBURN, Ala. – First it rained and then Kentucky reigned.
 
Kentucky endured an hour rain delay and a ninth inning rally but found a way to dance in the downpour, outlasting Auburn 8-6 in 10 innings to win its Southeastern Conference road opener at Plainsman Park. Chase Estep delivered a game-winning, RBI double and Daniel Harper closed the door, capping a wild night on the Plains.
 
The Wildcats improved to 15-4 overall and 3-1 in league play with the victory, their first in a conference road opener since sweeping Texas A&M in 2017. They’ll look to win a second straight SEC series on Saturday, which will feature a doubleheader that begins at 2 p.m. ET.
 
The win wasn’t without drama, as the game see-sawed back and forth after lightning and a heavy downpour sent the teams to shelter in the middle of the fifth inning with the Cats leading 2-1. Auburn tied the game in the seventh before the Cats unleashed their own thunder with a four-run eighth fueled by John Rhodes’ solo home run and Reuben Church’s three-run blast.
 
The Tigers battled back to tie the game in the ninth with help from a pair of walks and hit batters. But Harper entered and secured the final two outs to keep the game tied before Coltyn Kessler opened the 10^th with a single. Zeke Lewis, who pinch ran for Kessler, stole second and raced home when Estep slashed a double into the left field corner.
 
UK starter Cole Stupp was excellent again, spraying eight hits and two runs in seven innings, even coming back after the rain delay to give the pitching staff additional innings. Harper, who picked up the win, closed things out with 1.2 scoreless innings.
 
 
GAME SCORING
Top 2nd – T.J. Collett singled to RCF, Trae Harmon walked and both moved up on Coltyn Kessler’s SAC bunt. Reuben Church hit a SAC fly to CF to score Collett. UK 1, Auburn 0.
 
Bottom 2^nd – Miller homered to RF. UK 1, Auburn 1.
 
Top 4^th – Collett walked and scored from first on Church’s double to RF. UK 2, Auburn 1.
 
Bottom 7^th – Williams doubled to RCF with two outs and scored on Howell’s single up the middle. UK 2, Auburn 2.
 
Top 8^th – John Rhodes homered to LF. Collett and Harmon singled. Church homered to RF. UK 6, Auburn 2.
 
Bottom 9^th – Hill hit a pinch hit home run to RF. Brown was hit by a pitch, Williams walked, Howell walked to load the bases. Bliss singled to LF, Brown scored. Ward was hit by a pitch, Williams scored. Woley hit a SAC fly to RF, scoring Howell. UK 6, Auburn 6.
 
Top 10^th – Kessler lined a single to RF. Zeke Lewis pinch ran for Kessler and stole second. Chase Estep doubled down the LF line to score Lewis. Hill reached on an error, Estep scored. UK 8, Auburn 6.
 
 
NOTES

• UK is 15-4 overall, 3-1 in SEC play.
• The Cats won their SEC road opener for the first time since 2017 at Texas A&M.
• The UK pitching staff struck out seven batters in the game and now have punched out at least seven in 32 of the past 33 games, including 24 with 10 or more.
• The UK pitching staff has struck out 206 batters and walked just 57 this season.
• UK is 30-for-30 on stolen base attempts this season.

 
 
ON DECK
The Cats will play a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for game one is set for 2 p.m. ET on SECN+. The second game will start at 7 p.m. and air on the SEC Network. The radio call will be on the UK Sports Network.