May 9, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky jumped out to a 6-0 lead off of Auburn starter Grant Dayton while Kentucky starter Chris Rusin held Auburn to just six hits while striking out nine as Auburn dropped game two of a double header at Kentucky on Saturday evening, 6-3.
"Grant left a few balls up and they jumped on them and executed some good swings," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "Sean Ray did a great job for us, going deep in the game and giving us a chance but we could never get anything going (offensively)."
Kentucky scored six times off of Dayton (2-6) before an out was recorded in the third as both Gunner Glad and Chris Wade hit home runs off of the lefty while Auburn got just one hit in the first three innings, a Wes Gilmer single to left. Dayton left having allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits and hitting three batters in the shortest SEC start of his career.
Rusin threw his fourth complete game of the season to move to 6-4 on the season. The senior left hander was simply dominant at the start, sitting down 17 of the first 18 hitters of the game, including 12 straight from the third through sixth innings.
"After five innings we had only sent 15 guys to the plate. We have to find a way to manufacture and get something going. Rusin threw a very good game and consequently we ended up on the losing end again today," Pawlowski said.
Sean Ray, who came in for Dayton in the third, tossed a career-long six innings and ran his scoreless innings streak to 10 1/3 innings, spanning four appearances, allowing just one hit in those four outings, a fifth-inning single to Glad on Saturday evening.
"Sean threw three pitches for strikes and showed no fear. He is a tough competitor and he went right after the guys. He held the momentum for us and gave us a decent chance today," Pawlowski said of Ray's outing.
Auburn was able to get on the board in the seventh as Ben Jones hit a one-out, bases-loaded RBI single and Casey McElory drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to draw within four, 6-2.
Hunter Morris' RBI single in the eighth cut the lead to 6-3, scoring Justin Hargett from third after he led off the inning with a double, his second hit of the game.
Auburn lost the first game of the double header, 6-5 in 10 innings.
The loss dropped Auburn's record to 27-24, 8-18 SEC officially eliminated it from contention for the SEC Tournament later this month in Hoover, Ala.
Kentucky is now 26-23, 11-15 SEC.
Auburn will try to salvage the third game of the series on Sunday when the two teams face off at 1pm ET on the Big Blue Sports Network. Auburn will send Fr. RHP Dexter Price (3-2, 5.74) to the hill for his third SEC start while Kentucky has yet to announce its starter.
Kentucky 6, Auburn 3 (May 09, 2009 at Lexington, KY) (Game 2)
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Auburn.............. 000 000 210 - 3 6 4 (27-24, 8-18 SEC)
Kentucky............ 321 000 00X - 6 6 0 (26-23, 11-15 SEC)
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Win-Chris Rusin(6-4) Loss-Grant Dayton(2-6) T-2:25 A-2471
