May 10, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Dexter Price put the brakes on Auburn's nine-game Southeastern Conference losing streak on Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits in six-plus innings of work as Auburn claimed a 7-5 win over Kentucky at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Price was aided by three two-run home runs by the Auburn offense, two off the bat of left fielder Brian Fletcher, who along with Trent Mummey drove in all seven of Auburn's runs.
"This was a good win for our club. It seems like it has been a while and it certainly has," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "When you look at this game and look for the difference I think it was Dexter Price. He got deep into the game against a very good hitting team."
By the time Price took the mound in the bottom of the first he already had a two-run cushion as Trent Mummey blasted his 15th home run of the season with Justin Hargett on first after a leadoff walk, snapping a six-game homerless streak for Auburn, it's longest drought of the season.
"I knew that if I stuck to the game plan, the way we can hit and the defense behind me would make the plays," Price said. "Having a two-run lead helps the confidence big-time and takes a big weight off my shoulders. I was able to come out there relaxed."
Price (4-2) would not allow a hit until the fourth, a leadoff home run by Andy Burns, and by that time Auburn (28-24, 9-18 SEC) was already ahead 5-0 as Mummey drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the second and Fletcher smoked the first of his two home runs in the top of the third, a shot to left-center.
All five of Auburn's runs in the first three innings came off of Kentucky freshman Alex Meyer (1-4), who could not get out of the third, his shortest outing of the season. He surrendered just three hits and struck out three but was undone by a career-high-tying seven walks.
Fletcher's second home run of the day extended Auburn's lead to six, 7-1, and moved him into second on the team with 16. It was also the 26th of the sophomore's career and marked his third multi-homer game of the season and fourth of his career.
"Dexter came out and threw a great game and I was able to come out here and see the ball really well and hit a few out," Fletcher said.
Kentucky (26-24, 11-16 SEC) got back into the game with a three-run seventh, knocking Price out with a leadoff single and then getting three hits and a walk off of Bradley Hendrix, necessitating a move to closer Austin Hubbard with two outs in the inning and Auburn ahead 7-4.
Hubbard induced a groundout to end the seventh and allowed an eighth-inning solo home run to Marcus Nidiffer but was able to work around two base runners in the ninth to earn his 11th save of the season.
With three home runs, Auburn hit the century mark for home runs.
Hargett drew three of Auburn's walks while Dan Gamache took four free passes.
Price's win was the first by an Auburn starting pitcher in SEC play since Jon Luke Jacobs picked up the win over Vanderbilt on March 28.
Auburn returns to Plainsman Park for the final four games of the season, playing host to Georgia Southern at 6pm on Tuesday before closing out the season against Alabama from Thursday through Saturday.
Auburn 7, Kentucky 5 (May 10, 2009 at Lexington, KY)
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Auburn.............. 212 002 000 - 7 6 1 (28-24, 9-18 SEC)
Kentucky............ 000 100 310 - 5 11 1 (26-24, 11-16 SEC)
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Win-Dexter Price(4-2) Save-Austin Hubbard(11) Loss-Alex Meyer(1-4) T-3:09 A-2040
