No. 10 Auburn lost to Kentucky by a score of 5-4 on April 11 at Plainsman Park, despite holding the Wildcats scoreless over the final seven innings.
The close contest saw Auburn mount a late comeback but ultimately leave runners stranded in key moments. The result matters for both teams as they compete within their conference standings.
Jake Marciano overcame early difficulties on the mound, while relievers Marcel Kulik and Garrett Brewer combined for five shutout innings in relief. “We got their ace yesterday at the start of the game, and they got our ace today,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “I guess I misled them, but I told the team if they don’t score again we’ll win and get to six runs, and we came up just short.”
Brewer entered during a critical sixth-inning situation with two runners on base and managed to escape without allowing any runs. “I just knew I had to come in and throw strikes,” Brewer said. “(Coach Thompson) preaches all of the time to fill up the strike zone with good pitches, so that’s what I came in and did and got out of it.” Auburn cut its deficit to one run in the bottom of the sixth but could not capitalize further.
Kentucky started strong with three runs in the first inning—including a solo home run from Tyler Bell—and added two more solo homers in the second from Ethan Hindle and Ryan Schwartz. Auburn responded with hits from Logan Gregorio, Chris Rembert, Eric Guevara, and Brandon McCraine throughout the game but left multiple baserunners stranded across several innings.
Despite loading bases again late in the game, Auburn’s only hit after the fifth inning was an infield single by Guevara—who extended his hitting streak to ten games—in the ninth inning before two flyouts ended their rally attempt.
“That’s absolutely the way I want us to play,” Thompson added about his team’s effort. “That was a great spirit.” The series between Auburn (23-11) and Kentucky (25-9) will conclude Sunday afternoon.
