In one of the best games I’ve witnessed at the Hoover Met in quite some time, the Auburn Tigers got a walk-off win in the bottom of the 11th to send the Kentucky Wildcats home.
Auburn took a 3-2 lead into the ninth, but a clutch, two-out two-strike hit by Kole Cottom tied the game up and eventually sent us into extra innings. Cottom finished the game with 3 hits, including a home run, and 2 RBI.
Sean Hjelle came on in relief for Kentucky in the third and wound up tossing 7.1 shutout innings with 9 strikeouts. But with a high pitch count the Wildcats were forced to lift him in the 11th.
Auburn took advantage and put two on with one out before Edouard Julien walked it off with a solid base hit to the right-center field gap.
With the loss, Kentucky will most likely not make the NCAA Tournament. And with the win, Auburn improves its chances of hosting a regional next weekend.
