AUBURN, Ala. – Trailing 6-2 and down to its final three outs, Auburn scored four runs in the ninth to force extra innings but ultimately dropped the series opener against Kentucky, 8-6, Friday at Plainsman Park.
After Cam Hill hit a pinch-hit homer to cut the deficit to three, a one-out hit batter and back-to-back walks put the tying run on base. Ryan Bliss followed with a RBI single to left, Judd Ward was hit by a pitch to bring in another, and Rankin Woley hit a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game at six.
"We needed that to get back in it there," head coach Butch Thompson said of the ninth-inning rally. "We got right there within 90 feet away."
A flyout to center field ended the rally and sent the game into extra innings, when Kentucky (15-4, 3-1 SEC) wasted no time in reclaiming the lead with a pair of runs in the 10th.
Auburn (11-9, 0-4 SEC) again battled to put the tying aboard with one out in the ninth, but back-to-back ground balls ended the game.
Richard Fitts suffered the loss after throwing the 10th inning for the Tigers, while Kentucky pitcher Daniel Harper recorded the final five outs and picked up the win.
The Wildcats manufactured a run on a single, walk, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to start the scoring in the second. The run marked the first run Auburn starter Cody Greenhill allowed in 13.1 innings.
However, Auburn answered right back when Tyler Miller started the home half of the frame with a solo home run, his eighth of the season. Miller's home run came on the 11th pitch of the at-bat after fouling off seven pitches.
Kentucky reclaimed the lead in the fourth when Bryson Ware lost his footing in right field on a fly ball that would've ended the inning.
Following a 64-minute weather delay, Auburn put a baserunner on second base with a two-out double in three straight innings. The Tigers cashed in on the opportunity in the seventh as Kason Howell laced a single back up the middle to score Steven Williams and tie the game at two.
Kentucky reclaimed the lead on a solo home run in the eighth and extended its advantage to 6-2 on a three-run homer later in the frame before Auburn mounted its comeback.
Miller went 3-for-4 in the game and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Bliss, Williams and Howell also collected a pair of hits in the game.
The two teams will now wrap up the series with a doubleheader Saturday. Game one will begin at 1 p.m. followed by game two at 6 p.m.
Tigers force extras, fall short in opener vs. Kentucky
