MOBILE, Ala. — Collin Cowgill connected on a three-run home run in the seventh inning, part of a six-run frame, to give the No. 20 Kentucky baseball team a five-run lead that it would not surrender, boosting UK a 10-3 win over the South Alabama Jaguars, in the final game of the 23rd annual Coca-Cola Classic, on Saturday afternoon in front of 1,227 fans at Stanky Field.
Cowgill, a preseason All-American and member of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes National Player of the Year Award Watch List, strolled to the plate in the seventh inning with two runners on base and promptly opened up a large UK lead with a towering shot, sent high over the American flag in left field for his first homer of the season. Cowgill earned Coca-Cola Classic Most Valuable Player Honors while batting .308 (4-for-13) on the weekend, with five runs, one double, one triple, a homer, five RBI, three walks and two steals.
Kentucky (3-0) started Greg Dombrowski, the school career-record holder for the highest winning percentage in the 103-year history of the program, and the senior right hander delivered a five-inning performance, allowing just one earned run, picking up his 18th win of his career. Lefty James Paxton relieved Dombrowski and worked three innings, allowing three hits and striking out four. Dynamic senior right-hander Aaron Lovett and veteran Andrew Albers closed out the contest with a scoreless ninth inning.
South Alabama (2-1) got a five-inning start from lefty Lance Baxter, who allowed four runs, two earned, walking three and striking out six Wildcats earning the loss.
USA, a tradition-rich program that sports 24 NCAA Regional appearances since 1972, struck first in the bottom of the first inning. The Jags took advantage of two UK errors and a wild pitch to plate two runs. Leadoff man Ray Kruml ripped a groundball up the middle that freshman infielder Neiko Johnson, making his first career start, attempted to field with a diving backhand stab. The ball scooted off his glove allowing Kruml to reach. Kruml immediately stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Chris Davis drove in Kruml with a single through the right side, and Clint Toomey reached on an error charged to UK shortstop Chris Wade. USA first baseman Ryan Bohanan drove in Davis with an RBI single through the right side.
UK answered in the next half inning, scoring three runs to take a 3-2 lead. Junior outfielder Collin Cowgill led off the frame with a walk and designated hitter Troy Frazier followed with an infield single. Chris McClendon, attempting to lay down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position, forced Baxter into a throwing error, allowing Cowgill to score. After a quick Marcus Nidiffer strike out, freshman shortstop Chris Wade delivered an RBI double into the right-center field gap, plating Frazier and McClendon.
The Wildcats tacked on another run in the top of the third, as Carroll reached on a two-out walk. Baxter attempted to pick off Carroll at first base, but his throw sailed over the head of the first baseman, allowing Carroll to trot to third. Frazier plated Carroll with a double that was fielded with one hop by Kruml in center field – who fielded it barehanded – but Frazier legged it out for a double, narrowly missing the tag.
The Jaguars cut the UK lead to one with a run in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Ryne Jernigan led off with a single that scooted under the diving glove of UK shortstop Chris Wade and into left field. Ryan McCory followed, cranking a double off the base of the wall in left field, scoring Jernigan.
UK exploded for six runs in the seventh, as Neiko Johnson led off with a walk. Keenan Wiley followed, working the count full, and delivered a single into centerfield, allowing Johnson to reach third. Spear drove in Johnson with an RBI ground out to the shortstop. Carroll followed, drawing his second walk of the game, setting the stage for Cowgill, UK?s powerful cleanup hitter. Cowgill connected on the first ball he saw, a high and inside pitch, with Carroll and Wiley on base, sending it towering over the American flag – flying high in left field – for his first home run of the season. The inning was not over however, as McClendon singled through the right side, stole second, and moved to third on an error. Catcher Marcus Nidiffer, making his first career start, drew a walk and Wade scored the duo with a double down the left-field line.
Kentucky opens up its home slate with a 4 p.m. ET matchup with Oakland on Tuesday, at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
