Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

In the bottom of the ninth, Chad Wright is caught looking at strike three. Andy Burns coaxes a walk, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. Chris Bisson loops a single to shallow left, moving Burns to second and bringing the potential winning run to the plate. Gunner Glad grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. FINAL SCORE: Auburn 7, Kentucky 5.

Auburn           212  002  000  — 7    6  1
Kentucky        000  100  310  — 5  11  1
W — Price (4-2); L — Meyer (1-4); Sv — Hubbard (11). HR — AU: Mummey (15), Feltcher 2 (16); UK: Burns (6), Nidiffer (7). Att. — 2,040.

Cats hold Auburn in 9th, try to rally from 2 down

Auburn’s Brian Fletcher leads off the top of the ninth with a walk and moves to second on a grounder. UK Coach Gary Henderson replaces Logan Darnell with right-hander Clint Tilford. Darnell, a lefty, gave up three hits over 5 2/3 innings in relief. Second baseman Chris Bisson knocks down Wes Gilmer’s grounder up the middle and throw him out at first, while Fletcher takes third. Catcher Marcus Nidiffer blocks a Tilford pitch in the dirt, keeping Fletcher at third. Tilford then strikes out Dan Gamache with a B-B over the inside corner. Going to the bottom of the ninth: Auburn 7, Kentucky 5.

Nidiffer homers for UK, cuts Auburn lead to 7-5

Marcus Nidiffer

After the first two Kentucky batters are retired, Marcus Nidiffer sneaks a solo homer just over the center-field wall and the outstretched glove of Trent Mummey. Nidiffer’s seventh homer of the season cuts UK’s deficit to two runs. At the end of eight innings: Auburn 7, Kentucky 5.

Auburn goes down 1-2-3 in eighth

Auburn goes down in order in the eighth inning. Going to the bottom half of the inning: Auburn 7, Kentucky 4.

Kentucky scores 3 in 7th, trails Auburn 7-4

Chad Wright

Gunner Glad

When Braden Kapteyn leads off Kentucky’s half of the seventh with a bloop single to center, Auburn Coach John Pawlowski pulls starting pitcher Dexter Price and brings in another righty, Bradley Hendrix. Hendrix retires one batter, but Cory Farris doubles to right, Kapteyn stopping at third. Chad Wright’s chopper to short scores Kapteyn, but Farris gets hung up between second and third. He stays in a a rundown long enough for Wright to advance to second base. Andy Burns brings Wright home with a single up the middle and advances to second on the throw to the plate. Chris Bisson walks. Gunner Glad singles through the right side of the infield and, when right-fielder Ben Jones bobbles the ball for an error, Burns scores and Bisson takes third. Pawlowski yanks Hendrix and brings in another right-hander, Austin Hubbard. He gets Chris Wade to ground out. Going to the eighth inning: Auburn 7, Kentucky 4.

Unusual double play ends Auburn threat in 7th

In the top of the seventh, Auburn’s Wes Gilmer leads off with a double to the gap in right-center and Dan Gamache follows with a walk. Caleb Bowen puts down a two-strike bunt to move the runners to second and third. Justin Haggerty bounces to shortstop Chris Wade. Gilmer holds at third but Gamache doesn’t hold at second. After Wade throws out Haggerty at first, Gunner Glad whips the ball to second baseman Chris Bisson, who gets the ball to Chris McClendon for the tag. Score the double play 6-3-4-5. Seventh-inning stretch time: Auburn 7, Kentucky 1.

Wildcats add two hits but no runs in 6th

In the bottom of the sixth, Kentucky gets a one-out single, up the middle, from Chris Bisson. One out later, Chris Wade singles, the fifth hit given up by Auburn right-hander Dexter Price. The threat ends as Keenan Wiley lines out to center. Going to the seventh inning: Auburn 7, Kentucky 1.

Fletcher goes deep again to give Auburn 7-1 lead

Brian Fletcher

A hit batsman and Brian Fletcher’s second home run of the game (16th of the season) produce two runs for Auburn in the sixth inning. Three homers have produced six Auburn runs. Trent Mummey, the other long-ball artist, drove in the Tigers’ other run with a bases-loaded walk. Going to UK’s half of the sixth: Auburn 7, Kentucky 1.

Cats leave 2 runners on in 5th, trail Auburn 5-1

Kentucky gets a leadoff single from Keenan Wiley and a two-out single from Cory Farris, but can’t score in the fifth. Two runners are stranded as Chad Wright flies to deep center. Going to the sixth inning: Auburn 5, Kentucky 1.

Nidiffer, Darnell quell Auburn threat in fifth

After the first batter grounds out, Auburn loads the bases with a single, walk and fielding error. UK catcher Marcus Nidiffer fires a strike to Andy Burns, successfully picking off Wes Gilmer at third. Logan Darnell then induces Justin Hargett to ground out to second. In the middle of the fifth: Auburn 5, Kentucky 1.

Burns homer puts Kentucky on the board

Andy Burns

Held to a walk through three innings, Kentucky gets a lift from Andy Burns. The third baseman rips the first pitch of the inning for a home run off of the light tower in right-center field. Five of his six homers this season have come on first-pitch offerings. Auburn righty Dexter Price retires the next two batters. Then, Chris Wade just misses a homer — a long foul down the left-field line — and then flies out to right. After four innings: Auburn 5, Kentucky 1.

Darnell strikes out Auburn in order in fourth

UK’s Logan Darnell strikes out the side in the fourth: Hunter Morris, Ben Jones and Brian Fletcher, all swinging. In the middle of the fourth: Auburn 5, Kentucky 0.

Wildcats’ bats remain silent in third inning

Kentucky goes down in order in the third via two fly balls and a called third strike. Through three innings: Auburn 5 runs, 3 hits; Kentucky 0 runs, 0 hits.

Fletcher homer increases Auburn lead to 5-0

Alex Meyer

Auburn’s half of the third inning starts out much like the first inning. Ben Jones draws a leadoff walk and Brian Fletcher follows with a home run, his 15th of the season, over the left-field wall. Then, just as in the first, UK righty Alex Meyer strikes out the next two: Casey McElroy and Wes Gilmer. Unlike the first, though, he doesn’t get a third whiff in a row, as Dan Gamache and Caleb Bowen walk — Meyer’s and seventh free passes of the day. Gary Henderson pulls Meyer and brings in left-hander Logan Darnell. For his third straight at-bat, Justin Hargett works the count full before drawing a walk — this one to load the bases. But Trent Mummey fouls out to third baseman Andy Burns and Auburn leaves the bases loaded for the second consecutive inning. In the middle of the third inning: Auburn 5, Kentucky 0.

Cats get a base-runner but nothing else in 2nd

Auburn right-hander Dexter Price handles Kentucky’s first two batters in the second. The freshman gets Gunner Glad on a fly ball to left and Chris Wade on a pop to short right. Keenan Wiley draws a walk. Right fielder Ben Jones, battling the sun, wind and a long run to Braden Kapteyn’s shallow fly, makes a circus catch. At the end of two innings: Auburn 3, Kentucky 0.

Auburn adds a run in 2nd, leads Kentucky 3-0

Auburn puts runners on first and second with one out, prompting Kentucky Coach Gary Henderson to make a visit to RHP Alex Meyer. The freshman responds, striking out Caleb Bowen but then issues Justin Hargett his second walk of the game. Trent Mummey, who homered in the first inning, pops a foul behind the plate. But catcher Marcus Nidiffer is slow to locate the ball and can’t make the catch. Mummey then walks, forcing in a run. Hunter Morris just misses a grand slam, flying out on a drive to the right-field warning track. In the middle of the second inning: Auburn 3, Kentucky 0.

Wildcats go down in order in first inning

Kentucky goes down in order in the first, with a groundout, lineout and fly out. At the end of one: Auburn 2, Kentucky 0.

Mummey homer gives Auburn early 2-0 lead.

Trent Mummey

In the top of the first, Auburn taketh and Auburn swingeth away. Leadoff man Justin Hargett takes a 3-2 pitch for ball four. Trent Mummey brings him around with a two-run homer to the deck in right-center, his 15th homer of the season. UK freshman right-hander Alex Meyer settles down to strike out the next three batters — Hunter Morris, swinging; Ben Jones, looking; and Brian Fletcher, swinging. After half an inning: Auburn 2, Kentucky 0.

SEC baseball: Auburn at Kentucky, III

Kentucky, which hadn’t won a home baseball series against Auburn since 1989, tries for a three-game sweep Sunday.

We’re about 20 minutes away from the first pitch on a beautiful day at Cliff Hagan Stadium — 64 degrees, mostly sunny and a 7 mph wind blowing out to left field.

Kentucky swept Saturday’s Southeastern Conference doubleheader 6-5 (10 innings) and 6-3.

UK (26-23, 11-15 SEC) still has hopes of qualifying for the eight-team SEC Tournament. The Wildcats start Sunday ninth overall, 1 1/2 games behind Vanderbilt and 2 games back of South Carolina. Vandy goes for a sweep of Georgia on Sunday, with South Carolina taking on Tennessee.

Saturday’s sweep virtually eliminated Auburn (27-24, 8-18) from contention.

 

Sunday’s starting lineups:

AUBURN — Justin Hargett, 2B; Trent Mummey, CF; Hunter Morris, 1B; Ben Jones, RF; Brian Fletcher, LF; Casey McElroy, SS; Wes Gilmer, 3B; Dan Gamache, DH; Caleb Bowen, C. Pitching — RH Dexter Price (3-2, 5.74).

KENTUCKY — Chad Wright, LF; Andy Burns, 3B; Chris Bisson, 2B; Gunner Glad, 1B; Chris Wade, SS; Keenan Wiley, CF; Braden Kapteyn, DH; Marcus Nidiffer, C; Cory Farris, RF. Pitching — RH Alex Meyer (1-3, 4.67).

UMPIRES — Kevin Assman, plate; Nelson Graham, 1B; A.J. Lostaglio, 3B.

Chris Rusin

In the top of the ninth, Chris Rusin strikes out Wes Gilmer and gets Casey McElroy on a comebacker. Tony Caldwell keeps Auburn alive with a single to center, the Tigers’ sixth hit of the game. Rusin caps his complete-game victory, though, getting Chezz McCann to ground to short for the forceout at second. Rusin finishes with nine strikeouts. FINAL SCORE: KENTUCKY 6, AUBURN 3.

Kentucky takes 6-3 lead into ninth inning

Auburn lefty Sean Ray completes his sixth inning of shutout relief, retiring Kentucky in order. That runs his string of batters retired to 11 batters in a row. Going to the ninth inning: Kentucky 6, Auburn 3.

Auburn scores again to cut UK lead to 6-3

Hunter Morris

Auburn gets something going in the eighth when Justin Hargett lines a one-out double down the right-field line. Trent Mummey follows with a walk. Runners advance to second and third on Brian Fletcher’s chopper to third. Hunter Morris singles through the left side to drive in Hargett. The Cats catch a break, though, as Mummey stumbles over third base and holds up. A TV replay seems to indicate that a brush by third baseman Chris McClendon caused the stumble. Tigers Manager John Pawlowski argues for an interference call, but gets no satisfaction. Ben Jones flies to Keenan Wiley on the center-field warning track. In the middle of the eighth: Kentucky 6, Auburn 3.

Nothing for UK in 7th; Cats lead Auburn 6-2

Kentucky is retired in orther in the seventh, Sean Ray’s fifth inning of shutout relief. Going to the eighth: Kentucky 6, Auburn 2.

Auburn breaks up shutout but trails Kentucky 6-2

Ben Jones

Auburn gets its second hit of the game as Justin Hargett leads off the seventh with an infield single. One out later, Chris Rusin hits Brian Fletcher with a pitch, giving the Tigers two men on base for the first time in the game. A walk to Hunter Morris loads the bases. Center fielder Keenan Wiley makes a diving attempt to snare a sinking liner off the bat of Ben Jones. Wiley can’t pull it off, but his attempt holds the runners long enough that only one run scores. Wes Gilmer is called out on strikes. A second run scores as Casey McElroy draws a walk. Rusin hustles off the mound to field Tony Caldwell’s tapper, firing to first just in time to get the third out. Seventh-inning stretch time: Kentucky 6, Auburn 2.

Cats get zip in sixth, but lead Auburn 6-0

Nothing doing for Kentucky in a 1-2-3 sixth inning. Going to the seventh: Kentucky 6, Auburn 0.

Bisson busy as Auburn goes quietly in sixth inning

It’s another “vanquished in order” for Auburn in the sixth inning. Casey McElroy, Tony Caldwell and Chezz McCann all are put away on grounders to second baseman Chris Bisson. In the middle of the sixth: Kentucky 6, Auburn 0.

Ray fires third inning of shutout relief; UK leads 6-0

Sean Ray

Kentucky gets a one-out single from Gunner Glad, but that’s all. Second baseman Justin Hargett gets the third out by making a diving catch of Marcus Nidiffer’s pop to short center. Auburn reliever Sean Ray has now put up three shutout innings. Going to the sixth inning: Kentucky 6, Auburn 0.

Auburn vanquished in sequence by Rusin

Let’s see, how to find another way to say “retired in order” or “out 1-2-3″ … Ah! Auburn is vanquished in sequence in the fifth inning. UK’s Chris Rusin picks up his fifth and sixth strikeouts of the game. In the middle of the fifth, Kentucky 6, Auburn 0.

Kentucky down 1-2-3 in fourth, but leads Auburn 6-0

For the first time in the game, Kentucky goes down in order in the fourth, with two groundouts and a strikeout. At the end of four innings: Kentucky 6, Auburn 0.

Auburn goes down in order in fourth, trails 6-0

Chris Rusin

Auburn continues to struggle against UK left-hander Chris Rusin. Another 1-2-3 inning includes Rusin’s fourth strikeout — on in each inning — and a Rusin assist on Justin Hargett’s liner up the middle. The pitcher’s deflection gives shortstop Chris Wade enough time to throw out the runner at first. In the middle of the fourth: Kentucky 6, Auburn 0.

Wade homers, pads UK’s lead over Auburn to 6-0

Chris Wade

Kentucky expands its lead in the third as sophomore Chris Wade leads off with a home run to the light tower in left-center, his sixth dinger of the season. Auburn lefty Grant Dayton — who blanked UK on five hits over six innings last season — hits his third batter of the game, Marcus Nidiffer. Tigers Coach John Pawlowski calls to the bullpen for another southpaw, Sean Ray. The new pitcher deflects a liner off the bat of Keenan Wiley, with shortstop Casey McElroy making the catch on the fly. Nidiffer is doubled off first. Spencer Korus grounds out. After three complete innings: Kentucky 6, Auburn 0.

Auburn gets nothing in 3rd, trails Kentucky 5-0

Kentucky senior Chris Rusin retires Auburn in order in the third inning, picking up his third strikeout of the game en route. Going to the bottom of the third: Kentucky 5, Auburn 0.

Cats add two in 2nd to take 5-0 lead over Auburn

Chad Wright

Andy Burns

Back to business for Kentucky in the second, with some help from Auburn’s Grant Dayton. The left-hander starts the inning by hitting Keenan Wiley. One out later, a wild pitch moves Wiley to second. Chris McClendon also gets plunked by a pitch. Chad Wright singles to right, driving in Wiley and pushing McClendon to third. Andy Burns’ fly to left scores McClendon. Chris Bisson singles to left, but Gunner Glad pops up. Through two innings: Kentucky 5, Auburn 0.

Auburn second-inning single goes for naught

Auburn gets its first hit of the game, a two-out single to left by Wes Gilmer. He’s caught stealing, though, with catcher Marcus Nidiffer throwing to shortstop Chris Wade. With Kentucky coming to bat in the bottom of the second: Wildcats 3, Tigers 0.

Glad’s two-run homer highlights UK’s 3-run first

Gunner Glad

Kentucky’s half of the first inning opens with Chad Wright reaching on a fielding error by Auburn second baseman Justin Hargett. As Andy Burns strikes out, Wright steals second. A low throw skips off second baseman Justin Hargett, allowing Wright to continue to third. Catcher Tony Caldwell is charged with the error. Chris Bisson’s infield single (behind the second-base bag) drives in Wright. Gunner Glad belts the next pitch over the right-field wall, a two-run homer that makes it 3-0. At the end of one inning: Kentucky 3, Auburn 0.

Rusin retires Auburn in order in 1st inning

In the top of the first, Kentucky left-hander Chris Rusin retires Auburn in order, sandwiching a pair of groundouts around a called third strike. After half an inning: no score.

Starting lineups for Saturday’s second game

Lineups for Saturday’s second game between Kentucky and Auburn — Senior Night at Cliff Hagan Stadium:

Auburn (27-23, 8-17 SEC) — Justin Hargett, 2B; Trent Mummey, CF; Brian Fletcher, LF; Hunter Morris, 1B; Ben Jones, RF; Wes Gilmer, 3B; Casey McElroy, SS; Tony Caldwell, C; Chezz McCann, DH. Pitching — LH Grant Dayton (2-5, 5.61).

Kentucky (25-23, 10-15) – Chad Wright, LF; Andy Burns, DH; Chris Bisson, 2B; Gunner Glad, 1B; Chris Wade, SS; Marcus Nidiffer, C; Keenan Wiley, CF; Spencer Korus, RF; Chris McClendon, 3B. Pitcher — LH Chris Rusin (5-4, 4.07).

Umpires – A.J. Lostaglio, plate; Kevin Assman, 1B; Nelson Graham, 3B.

SEC baseball: Auburn at Kentucky II

As Auburn and Kentucky prepare for their second game of the day, the weather at Cliff Hagan Stadium is markedly different than it was for Saturday’s 2 p.m. first-game start. Total cloud cover has given way to clear skies. The temperature is 70 degrees, with a 16 mph wind blowing out to left field.

Kentucky won the opener, 6-5 in 10 innings.

We’ll have lineups for the second game soon.

In a matchup of left-handers, Kentucky is expected to start Chris Rusin (5-4, 4.07) against Auburn’s Grant Dayton (2-5, 5.61).