A desperate Auburn baseball team grabbed a much-needed 8-1 win Saturday night in Lexington, Ky. to even the weekend series against the Wildcats.
The Tigers exploded for a SEC season-high eight runs to keep themselves alive in the fight for the final spot in the upcoming SEC Tournament. Auburn is currently a half-game behind Georgia for the final spot and a full game behind Kentucky and Tennessee.
The Tigers hold the tiebreaker over both the Wildcats and the Volunteers.
Senior pitcher Dillon Ortman (9-3) went seven innings for the Tigers, allowing seven hits, four walks and just one earned run. The win keeps Ortman tied for the SEC lead in victories.
Auburn grabbed a run in each of the first two innings, then broke out in a four-run third inning that proved to be too much for the Wildcats to overcome.
Senior second baseman Dan Glevenyak had one of his most productive games on the season, driving in a season-high three RBIs, including a two-RBI single in the fourth that gave the Tigers a 6-0 lead.
The Tigers would add another run in the fifth and sixth innings, which was more than enough for the consistent Ortman.
Batting out of the nine-hole, Glevenyak went 3-for-5 with three RBIs while the top two hitters in Auburn's lineup, Anfernee Grier and Damon Haecker, were also 3-for-5 on the night.
Relievers Jay Wade and Trey Cochran-Gill both pitched scoreless innings in relief of Ortman.
Auburn will go for the series win Sunday behind freshman starter Keegan Thompson. First pitch from Cliff Hagan Stadium in Lexington is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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