The Kentucky baseball team plays rival Louisville on Tuesday, which is just fine with the Cats. They could use a break from the Southeastern Conference.
Auburn's 8-2 victory at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Sunday completed a three-game sweep in which the Tigers totaled 48 hits and 35 runs against Kentucky pitching. UK has lost nine straight in the SEC, its longest skid since starting 0-9 in 2005.
Once again, the bullpen failed the Cats. Auburn broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the seventh and added two more in the eighth. UK relief pitchers allowed 19 runs in eight innings during the series.
UK (16-17, 2-10) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by Braden Kapteyn and J.T. Riddle.
Auburn (18-14, 5-7) scored in the second and fifth innings to tie it at 2.
UK starter Taylor Rogers (2-4) nearly got out of the seventh inning unscathed, but Auburn's Justin Hargett was called safe on a close play at first that would have been the third out. Auburn proceeded to score four runs in the inning to take a 6-2 lead.
Auburn made it 8-2 in the eighth, taking advantage of three UK errors — two by shortstop Taylor Black.
Auburn starter Jon Luke Jacobs allowed six hits and two runs in 51⁄3 innings. Sean Ray (2-1) got the win in relief.
UK's next game is at Louisville on Tuesday night.
