AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn put the tying run in scoring position with nobody out in the ninth but dropped the series opener against No. 8 Kentucky 6-5 Thursday night at Plainsman Park.
Cooper Weiss started the ninth with his third hit of the game and advanced to second on an error, but a strikeout and ground ball double play ended the game, marking Auburn's sixth game in Southeastern Conference play decided by two or fewer.
"We played well, played a good team," head coach Butch Thompson said. "I think we have everything in position now, but we're going to have to get one more hit or make one more pitch. We're kind of at that stage here, but we really hung in there the whole time."
Dylan Watts retired the first two batters he faced in the game, but four straight two-out singles from Kentucky (28-5, 12-1 SEC) gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead in the first.
Carson Myers relieved Watts with two outs in the third and induced a ground ball to third, but it skipped off the glove and allowed two more unearned runs to score.
Trailing 4-0, Auburn (18-15, 2-11 SEC) evened the score with a four-run fourth inning. Three walks started the frame, and Deric Fabian drove in the first runs on a double before Cale Stricklin followed three pitches later with a two-run single.
Kentucky tried to reclaim the lead with a one-out single and double in the fifth, but a strong relay from Cade Belyeu to Weiss to the plate beat the runner by two steps to keep it tied.
Carson Myers turned in 4.1 scoreless innings in relief as he recorded the first two outs of the seventh inning, but a two-out double followed by a two-run homer gave Kentucky a 6-4 lead. All six of Kentucky's runs in the game were scored with two outs.
Auburn cut the deficit to one on a pinch-hit single from Christian Hall in the eighth and had runners on the corners with one out. However, a comebacker to the pitcher resulted in an out at the plate and a popup to short ended the inning without further damage.
"Stay in there and meet it head on," Thompson added. "You have to keep playing. Nobody's going to feel sorry for you and take it easy on you when you're in this league."
Weiss matched a season and career high with three hits in the game, while Fabian collected multiple hits for the first time in league play.
Game two between the Tigers and Wildcats is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park.
Auburn battles back, falls in late stages to No. 8 Kentucky
