May 18, 2007
LEXINGTON, Ky. -
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After pounding out 18 runs on 20 hits last night, the Auburn bats were right back at it on Friday night as the Tigers connected for 15 hits in a 13-6 series-clinching win over Kentucky at Cliff Hagan Stadium. For the second straight night Auburn capitalized on poor fielding by Kentucky as UK allowed eight unearned runs on four errors.
"We did a nice job on (Kentucky starter Andrew) Albers to start the game and the kids just did a tremendous job all night long," Auburn Head Coach Tom Slater said. "Up and down the lineup guys had good approaches and we did a good job of taking care of business."
Freshman Robert Brooks was the star amongst stars on the night as he drove in four runs in a 3-for-5 effort, doubling in the second and eighth innings as he collected his fourth three-hit game of the season.
"Today was about having a good mentality and not being passive at the plate but rather attacking," Brooks said. "I have been working a lot with Coach (Karl) Nonemaker and things are really clicking for me right now."
Auburn (31-24, 10-19 SEC) got right to work in the early going of the game, crossing the plate eight times in the first two innings to jump out to an 8-2 lead after an inning-and-a-half.
Auburn scored three in the first as Andy Bennett's (1-for-5, 2 R, RBI) two-out single to center scooted under the glove of UK center fielder Antone DeJesus allowing Luke Greinke (3-for-6, R, 2 RBI) and Mike Bianucci (1-for-4, 2 R) to come home. Bennett, who made it to third on the error, later scored on Brooks' single to make it 3-0.
After allowing Kentucky (33-19-1, 12-16-1) to get back in the game with two runs in the bottom of the first, Auburn erupted for five more runs in the top of the second. Brooks' bases-clearing double down the right field line with two down and two runs already in was more than enough to knock Albers (6-5) from the game and give Auburn the commanding 8-2 lead.
Auburn padded its lead with three runs in the fifth as Greinke singled in two and then Josh Donaldson (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) hit a sac fly to score Bruce Edwards (1-for-4, 2 R) and make it an 11-3 game.
Donaldson hit his 11th home run of the year and 28th of his career in the top of the seventh. He is now one home run shy of breaking into the all-time top 10 list at Auburn.
Taylor Thompson (5-2) went 5.0 innings in the start for Auburn, allowing four runs on six hits to earn the win.
All nine starters recorded hits for Auburn for the second straight night.
Auburn has scored 31 runs in the first two games of the series. It is the most runs scored by Auburn in a SEC series this season and the most since scoring 38 in the Coca-Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala., in February.
The two teams will play the final game of the regular season at 1pm ET on Saturday. Kentucky will send Jr. RHP Greg Dombrowski (5-2) while Auburn sends So. RHP Bryan Woodall (2-2) to the hill. The game will be carried live on FSN courtesy of Big Blue Sports Network.