The Auburn Baseball team's high-powered offense was on display once again Friday night, as the Tigers pounded out 12 hits en route to a 13-6 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats (22-16, 5-11 SEC) in front of 2,662 fans at Plainsman Park in the first game of three-game series.
Auburn (26-13, 9-7) came into the contest with the No. 1-ranked offense in the SEC with a .349 team batting average, and the offense wasted no time in giving starting pitcher Cory Luckie an early cushion.
The Tigers jumped on Kentucky starter Logan Darnell for three first-innings runs.
After consecutive singles by right fielder Justin Fradejas and center fielder Trent Mummey, first baseman Hunter Morris laced a bases-clearing triple to deep right-center field just out of the reach of Kentucky center fielder Keenan Wiley. Catcher Tony Caldwell lifted a sac fly to right field to drive in Morris.
"This offense is very dynamic," Luckie said. "It's definitely a lot more exciting to watch this offense play. It definitely gives you a lot more cushion and gives you a lot more to work with."
Darnell suffered the loss, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits in six and one-third innings while striking out seven and issuing two walks.
Luckie hurled five and two-thirds innings to pick up the win, surrendering four earned runs on six hits and fanning five.
Luckie was the first Friday night starter to pitch beyond the third inning since the opening series of SEC play against Georgia, a streak that spanned four league series.
"I'm really proud of the job that Cory Luckie did," said coach John Pawlowski. "He got us into the sixth inning and that kind of set the tone for us. We needed somebody to step up on a Friday night and he did exactly what we needed to do."
Auburn tacked on six more runs over the next five frames and led 9-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Tigers then turned to the long ball to put the game out of reach.
Caldwell led off the inning and sent the first pitch he saw from Kentucky relief pitcher Walter Wijas over the green monster in left field.
Pinch hitter Kevin Caldwell followed with a solo shot of his own off the batter's eye in center.
A sacrifice fly by Fradejas and an RBI single by Mummey increased the Tigers' lead to 13-5.
Closer Austin Hubbard pitched the final three and one-third innings to pick up his fourth save of the season.
Auburn was led offensively by Mummey, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.
Mummey has hit safely in all 11 games he has played in since returning from an ankle injury April 6.
"Every day, I start seeing the ball a little better," Mummey said. "Working hard in the offseason has really helped out, and I'm seeing the ball great."
Fradejas, Morris and Caldwell chipped in two RBIs a piece. Fradejas' first-inning single extended his hitting streak to 20 games.
Ketucky left fielder Lance Ray went 3-for-4 with three doubles and an RBI to lead the Wildcats.
The Tigers will try to capture the series win on Sunday as today's game has been suspended because of inclement weather.
First pitch for Sunday will be at 10:30 a.m., with a seven-inning contest to follow 30 minutes after the full nine-inning game.
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