AUBURN, Ala. — Cory Luckie gave Auburn exactly what it needed from a Friday night starter — a chance.

The left-hander had a pedestrian line, giving up four runs in 5 2/3 innings against Kentucky, but it was an ace performance relative to the Tigers’ recent Friday night outings and spurred Auburn on to a 13-6 victory at Plainsman Park.

“We gave up six runs,” Luckie said, “but on a Friday night for us, that’s real good.”

Auburn (26-13, 9-7 SEC) hadn’t won on a Friday since March 19 against Georgia, the opening week of league play.

After beating the Bulldogs, the Tigers lost four straight on Fridays, with their starting pitcher failing to get through the third inning each time.

Luckie was pounded by South Carolina and Alabama. Cole Nelson was the victim the last two weeks against LSU and Vanderbilt. Auburn starters had a 36.70 ERA in those games.

But Luckie (5-2) set the tone this Friday, getting through a 1-2-3 first inning.

“We needed somebody to step up on a Friday night and he did exactly what we needed to do,” Auburn head coach John Pawlowski said. “Get deep in the game and give ourselves a chance to get the offense going.”

Auburn rewarded him with a 3-0 cushion, getting a two-run triple from Hunter Morris and a sacrifice fly from Tony Caldwell off Kentucky starter Logan Darnell (3-3) in the bottom of the first.

Trent Mummey made it 7-2 in the fourth with a solo home run, his sixth in 11 games since returning from a severely sprained ankle that kept him out the first seven weeks.Mummey, who was 3-for-5, has at least one hit in every game he’s played and is batting .400 with 18 RBIs.

“Trent just wants to be out there,” Pawlowski said. “He doesn’t think about how many swings it’s going to take for him to get ready and get caught up in all the preparation. He’s the type of guy that just wants to put the uniform on and go out there and play.”

Tony Caldwell and Kevin Patterson both added solo home runs, part of a 12-hit night for the Tigers.

“This offense is very dynamic,” Luckie said. “And that’s one difference from last year’s offense. Last year was one-dimensional. So it’s definitely a lot more exciting to watch this offense play. As a pitcher, you can’t ask for more. It definitely gives you a lot more to work with.”

Austin Hubbard pitched the final 3 1/3 innings for his fourth save, giving up two runs on three hits. He struck out three.

The start time for today’s game has been moved up to noon ET to avoid late afternoon thunderstorms.

Kentucky (22-16, 5-11 SEC) will pitch Taylor Rogers (4-4, 4.92 ERA). Auburn has yet to announce a starter.