Kentucky Closes Out Gutsy One-Run Win at No. 10 Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – Challenged to put its fight and grit on display a night after a disappointing effort, Kentucky scored five early runs and made them hold up as it closed out a 5-4 victory at No. 10 Auburn on Saturday night.

Kentucky now is 25-9 overall and 7-7 in the Southeastern Conference.

All-American Tyler Bell tied his career high with four hits, including a solo home run to open the game. The Cats touched Auburn ace Jake Marciano for three home runs in the first two innings, including solo shots over the miniature Green Monster in left field.

Luke Lawrence also extended his reached base streak to 39 games with a fourth inning single.

It was enough for Cats’ pitching staff, although not without some tension-filled moments. Auburn scored a run in the fourth but were held there with a bases loaded strikeout to end the inning. It added two more in the fifth and one in the sixth but Nile Adcock was sensational with 3.2 scoreless innings before giving way to Leighton Harris with two outs in the ninth and the tying and winning runs in scoring position.

Harris induced a one-pitch flyout from pinch hitter Lucas Steele to end the game.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 25-9 on the season, 7-7 in SEC play.
  • UK is 143-71 since the beginning of 2023.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 318-201 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • Mingione is 120-131 in SEC games.
  • Mingione now is 13-6 vs. Auburn.
  • Mingione is 27-12 vs. teams from Alabama.
• Ethan Hindle and Ryan Schwartz hit home runs on consecutive pitches in the second inning.
  • It is the first time UK has gone back-to-back since May 11, 2025 vs. Oklahoma (Tyler Bell and Luke Lawrence).
• UK scored three runs in the first inning.
  • It’s the 36th time this season the Cats have scored three or more runs in an inning.
  • It’s the 12^th time in 14 SEC games.
• IF Luke Lawrence has reached safely in 39 consecutive games after a third inning single.
  • He had two hits, his 15^th multi-hit game of the season and 36^th at UK.
• IF Tyler Bell went 4-for-5 with a solo home run.
  • He led off the game with a home run.
  • It is the second time UK has done that this season (Ethan Hindle vs. Western Kentucky).
  • The four hits tied a career high.
• UT Ryan Schwartz went 2-for-4 with a double and home run.
• IF Ethan Hindle had a solo home run.
• RHP Nate Harris allowed one run in 4.0 innings.
• RHP Nile Adcock earned the win with 3.2 scoreless innings.
  • He allowed just one hit.
• LHP Leighton Harris earned the save.
  • He stranded the tying run at third with one pitch to end the game,
  • It was his first career save.

ON DECK

UK faces No. 10 Auburn on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET/2 CT. The game is on SEC Network and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network/630 WLAP.