SEC ROUNDUPS

KENTUCKY 8, LSU 1

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Austin Cousino and Luke Maile hit home runs and Jerad Grundy turned in a quality start as Kentucky (34-6, 12-5 SEC) defeated LSU (32-8, 12-5) to even their SEC series and end LSU’S league-leading eightgame winning streak.

LSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but Kentucky answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and never trailed again. The Wildcats added four runs in the fourth and two more in the seventh.

Kentucky finished with 11 hits Saturday after recording 10 Friday against the Tigers, who entered the weekend ranked second in the SEC in ERA.

Cousino and Maile each finished with three RBI. Cousino was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored, while Maile went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI. Maile also upped his Secleading home run total to 11.

Thomas Mccarthy added 2 hits with 2 runs scored for Kentucky, and Michael Williams had 2 hits and 1 RBI.

Grundy bounced back with a quality outing after failing to make it through the fifth inning in his four previous starts. He went 6 innings, allowing 6 hits and 1 run while walking 3 and striking out 3.

Alex Phillips took over for Grundy with a runner on and no outs in the seventh and worked the final three innings for his third save of the year, keeping the UK bullpen intact for today. MISSISSIPPI STATE 3, TENNESSEE 2

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Matthew Britton scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch as the Bulldogs (24-16, 8-10 SEC) held off the Volunteers (22-18, 711) in 14 innings to complete a sweep at Dudy Noble Field.

MSU’S pitching staff turned in a strong performance in the series. In 34 innings, the Bulldog allowed 20 hits and 4 earned runs for a 1.02 ERA. Nine pitchers combined to strike out 27 batters and walked only eight.

Britton started things in the 14th with an infield hit. Sam Frost advanced Britton on a bunt, and after Adam Frazier drew an intentional walk, Mitch Slauter reached when he hit a ground ball to the Tennessee shortstop, who then hit a base runner with his throw to third base.

Britton scored the game-winning run one pitch later.

MSU finished with eight hits, while Tennessee finished with 11 hits.

FLORIDA 5, GEORGIA 3

GAINSEVILLE, Fla. — Right-hander Michael Palazzone pitched eight strong innings and Blake Dieterich pitched a scoreless ninth as Georgia (24-16, 89 SEC) evened its series with Florida (30-9, 10-7) in front of 4,458 fans at Mckethan Stadium.

Palazzone (2-5) limited the Gators to 6 hits and 3 runs — including two home runs — while Dieterich picked up his seventh save.

The Bulldogs turned a 2-1 deficit into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish with a three-run third inning highlighted by a two-out, two-run single by senior Levi Hyams, who finished the game 1 for 4. Florida’s Brian Johnson worked a career-high 7 innings, scattering 7 hits and allowing 4 runs with 5 strikeouts.

ALABAMA 8, VANDERBILT 6

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama (1624, 6-11 SEC) used a four-run ninth inning, capped by Austen Smith’s two-out, three-run home run, to defeat Vanderbilt (17-22, 6-11) at Sewell-thomas Stadium.

It marked the third time this season Alabama has won an SEC home game on Saturday with a home run in its last at-bat. Brett Booth’s two-run home run March 24 gave the Tide a 3-2 victory over Mississippi, and Taylor Dugas’ two-run home run April 7 gave Alabama a 4-3 victory over Auburn.

James Tullidge led off the ninth with an infield single before advancing to third on a single by Dugas. With runners at the corners and no outs, Hunter Gregory’s sacrifice fly to deep left field allowed Tullidge to score. After an out and a walk, Smith hit a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left field for his first home run of the season.

Smith finished 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and 1 run scored. Ben Moore was 3 for 4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI.

Reliever Trey Pilkington (2-3) earned the victory, pitching 2 innings and allowing 1 run on 2 hits.

SOUTH CAROLINA 5, AUBURN 3

AUBURN, Ala. — South Carolina (2911, 10-7 SEC) scored four runs in the sixth inning and went on to defeat Auburn (21-18, 18-7) at Plainsman Park.

Auburn’s pitching staff was hurt by walks, with all three it issued coming around to score. Jon Luke Jacobs (51) gave up the first two in the sixth before surrendering a two-run triple to Christian Walker and a home run to LB Dantzler that made it 4-1.

The third walk started the ninth for South Carolina as pinch- hitter Kyle Martin drew a walk off reliever Dillon Ortman. TJ Costen came in to run for Martin, and a sacrifice bunt moved him to second before Tanner English bounced one to Dan Glevenyak at short. Glevenyak couldn’t handle the ball, then threw wide of home to allow Costen to slide in safely for a 5-3 lead.

South Carolina starter Jordan Montgomery (4-0) gave up 2 runs in 5 1⁄3 innings, allowing 6 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1. Matt Price pitched the last two innings for his fourth save.