De-Striped: Kentucky Baseball Sweeps Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – How sweep it is.
 
For just the second time since 2008, Kentucky swept a Southeastern Conference opponent on the road, finishing off its three-game series at Auburn with a pair of victories in Saturday’s doubleheader at Plainsman Park. The Cats never trailed during the series and improved to 5-1 in league play, their best start since the 2017 season.
 
The Cats (17-4, 5-1 SEC) jumped to early leads in both games on Saturday and answered every Auburn rally. TJ. Collett launched a three-run first-inning blast in the opener and added an RBI double off the wall in the opening frame of the nightcap, keeping the Cats on the offensive throughout. The senior first baseman had five RBI on Saturday and scored six runs in the series with multiple hits in all three games.
 
Auburn wouldn’t go away quietly, mounting comebacks in all three games, but the Cats never blinked. In game one, freshman right-hander Austin Strickland pitched the final two innings to earn the win in his first career appearance in a hostile environment, then watched as senior righty Holt Jones stranded the game-tying run on base to earn the save.
 
UK’s last SEC road sweep came at No. 13 Texas A&M in 2017 and the last sweep of any kind in conference play came later that season vs. Tennessee. It also was the first series win at Auburn since 2004 and only the second sweep of the Tigers in Auburn, with the other coming in 1992.
 
 
GAME ONE SCORING
Top 1st – Austin Schultz singled and John Rhodes was hit by a pitch. T.J. Collett homered to CF. Coltyn Kessler homered to LF. UK 4, Auburn 0.
 
Bottom 1^st – Woley and Miller each had two-out singles. Howell doubled to LF, scoring Woley. Ward reached on an error, Miller scored. UK 4, Auburn 2.
 
Top 6^th – Collett singled through the left side and scored from first on a double to LCF by Kessler. UK 5, Auburn 2.
 
Bottom 6^th – Miller walked and scored on Howell’s home run to LCF. UK 5, Auburn 4.
 
Top 7^th – Oraj Anu homered to LF. UK 6, Auburn 4.
 
Bottom 8^th – Williams doubled and Hill walked to open the inning. Both moved up on a SAC bunt. Moore blooped a single into RF, scoring Williams and Hill. UK 6, Auburn 6.
 
Top 9^th – Ryan Ritter reached on a two-out infield single and advanced to third on Austin Schultz’s single. Anu singled through the left side, Ritter scored. UK 7, Auburn 6.
 
 
GAME TWO SCORING
Top 1st – Austin Schultz singled to CF, advanced to second on Oraj Anu’s groundout, stole third and scored on a John Rhodes single to LF. T.J. Collett doubled off the LCF wall, scoring Rhodes. UK 2, Auburn 0.
 
Top 2^nd – Reuben Church singled and Chase Estep walked. Schultz singled to RCF, Church scored. UK 3, Auburn 0.
 
Bottom 3^rd – Bliss singled up the middle with two outs. Ward doubled. Woley doubled, Bliss and Ward scored. UK 3, Auburn 2.
 
Top 5^th – Rhodes doubled to LF and scored on Collett’s single to RF. Trae Harmon singled. Coltyn Kessler walked to load the bases. Collett scored on a double play. Chase Estep singled to RCF with two outs, scoring Harmon. UK 6, Auburn 2.
 
Bottom 5^th – Dyal singled to open the inning. Bliss bunted for a hit. Both runners moved up on a throwing error. Ward grounded out, Dyal scored, Bliss to third. UK 6, Auburn 3.
 
Bottom 9^th – Moore and Howell walked. Bliss singled through the right side, Moore scored. UK 6, Auburn 4.
 
 
NOTES

• UK is 17-4 overall, 5-1 in SEC play.
• The sweep is:
  • The first in SEC play since May 2017 vs. Tennessee.
  • The first SEC road sweep since March 2017 at No. 13 Texas A&M.
  • Just the second SEC road sweep since 2008.
• The UK pitching staff has struck out at least seven in 34 of the past 35 games, including 24 with 10 or more.
• The UK pitching staff has struck out 223 batters and walked just 71 this season.
• UK is 33-for-33 on stolen base attempts this season.

• Senior 1B T.J. Collett went 4-for-8 in the DH with three runs, five RBI, a double, a home run and a HBP.

  • Collett extended his reached base safely streak to a team-best 21 games.
  • Collett now has eight home runs on the season and 34 in his career.
• Junior IF/OF Austin Schultz had two hits in both games after his 14-game hitting streak was snapped on Friday night.
  • Schultz has reached base safely in 75 of 81 career games.
  • He stole two bases and is 12-for-12 on the season.
• Sophomore OF John Rhodes extended his reached base safely streak to 20 games.
• Senior C Coltyn Kessler caught all 18 innings on Saturday and 27 for the weekend.
  • Kessler had five hits in the DH, including a solo home run in the first inning of the opener. It was his first homer of the season.
• Freshman RHP Austin Strickland earned his first career victory in the opening game.
• Senior RHP Holt Jones earned his first save as a Wildcat in the nightcap.

 
ON DECK
The Cats make a quick pit stop at Kentucky Proud Park on Tuesday to face Bellarmine before heading back on the road. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on the SECN+. The radio call will be on the UK Sports Network.