AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn dropped Saturday's doubleheader vs. Kentucky, losing the day game 7-6 and falling in the series finale 6-4 Saturday at Plainsman Park.
"In our six conference games, we've been out pitched," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We've hit enough to hang in ball games, but we're still looking for that big one with some big hits. I really think we've scored enough to win a few games.
"We've got so much work to do, but we'll get right back after it," Thompson added. "We have eight more of these, and we signed up for 10 weeks. We'll continue to compete and figure things out."
GAME ONE
Kentucky wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard with a three-run home run from T.J. Collett and solo homer from Coltyn Kessler in the top of the first.
However, Auburn answered with two runs in the home half. Kason Howell drove in the first run on a double to left, and another came in to score on a two-out fielding miscue by the Wildcats.
After surrendering the four-run first, Auburn starter Mason Barnett settled down to hold the Wildcats scoreless in the next four frames. Barnett went 5.1 innings and struck out eight without issuing a walk.
Kentucky extended its lead to 5-2 on a RBI double in the sixth, but Auburn drew to within one on a two-run homer from Howell in the home half. The long ball was Howell's second of the season and his career.
The Wildcats answered Auburn with a solo homer in the top of the seventh, but the Tigers drew even in the bottom of the eighth when Brody Moore came through with a two-out, two-RBI single down the right-field line. Moore fouled off three straight pitches to stay alive in the at-bat.
Again, though, Kentucky answered with a RBI single to reclaim the lead in the ninth. Auburn put the tying run in scoring position with one out in its last at-bat, but a strikeout and flyout ended the threat and game.
GAME TWO
Similar to earlier in the day, Kentucky jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first and another in the second. The Wildcats collected five hits in the first two innings against Auburn starter Joseph Gonzalez and scored on a pair of RBI base knocks and a RBI double.
The Tigers cut the deficit to one on three straight two-out hits in the third. Judd Ward followed Ryan Bliss' single up the middle with a double to left right-center, and Rankin Woley drove them both in with a double to left-center.
Gonzalez retired eight of 10 batter from the second through fourth innings before the first two Kentucky hitters reached to make it 4-2 in the fifth and end his first SEC start. Carson Swilling entered in relief of Gonzalez and the Wildcats scored two more runs on a double play and RBI single.
Judd Ward drove in a run to make it 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth, and the score remained there until Bliss hit a RBI single in the ninth, marking his fourth hit of the contest.
The Tigers one through three hitters in Bliss, Ward and Woley went 8-for-14 with two runs and four RBI in the nightcap.
Brooks Fuller worked 2.1 scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts in relief. Will Morrison recorded a pair of outs and Cam Hill pitched a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout.
Auburn continues SEC play by traveling to No. 2 Arkansas for a three-game series Thursday-Saturday.
Auburn falls in doubleheader vs. Kentucky
