EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Evansville Purple Aces plated five unanswered runs in the last three innings to erase a 4-1 Kentucky lead and secure a 5-4 upset victory over the visiting Wildcats, in front of 1,028 fans at Braun Stadium.
Evansville entered the eighth inning trailing UK by one run. The Purple Aces tacked on its run in the eighth to tie game at four, only to win the contest with a walk-off single from freshman pinch hitter Andy Pascoe in the bottom of the ninth. Pascoe, who entered the at bat with six career hits and one career RBI, strolled to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and Kentucky?s top reliever, Aaron Lovett, on the mound. Pascoe connected on a gap single, scoring the game-winning run from third.
Kentucky stranded a total of 15 runners on base, one shy of its season-high total of 16, set against Mississippi State on April 1. The Wildcats got a solid performance from its lineup, as UK totaled 12 hits and five walks. Five UK players charted multi-hit performances, as Antone DeJesus, Mike Brown, Matt McKinney, Sawyer Carroll, and Keenan Wiley each finished the night with a pair of hits. Brown connected on his fourth triple of the season, a deep center-field shot that enabled McKinney to score from first.
Lovett took the loss, falling to 3-3 on the season ? serving as the final of a season-high tying nine UK pitchers. Clint Tilford notched the start, working 2 1/3 innings, before being pulled for the bevy of UK relievers, beginning with Troy Ragle. Oxford, Ferguson, Baber, Paxton, Warner, Paxton, and Dombrowski each took to the bump for the Wildcats, with Dombrowski making his first relief appearance since May 22, 2005 at South Carolina.
Kentucky (31-16-1, 10-13-1 Southeastern Conference) threatened at its first opportunity in the first, getting two consecutive bunt singles from Mike Brown and DeJesus, plus a walk to load the bases. The Wildcats could not capitalize, as the Purple Aces got out of the inning without any damage.
The Wildcats continued to apply the pressure in the second inning, scoring one run to take an early 1-0 lead. Anthony Ottrando, making his seventh career start, led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. UE starter Sean McCarthy issued 12 straight balls, loading the bases for the Wildcats for the second consecutive inning. DeJesus followed, lofting a sacrifice fly into centerfield, allowing Ottrando to score from third.
Evansville (32-19, 12-9 Missouri Valley Conference) tied up the contest in the bottom half of the second, beginning with an advantageous lead-off single from Robbie Minor. The next batter, Troy Kinder worked the count full, allowing Minor to take off with the pay-off pitch from first. Minor ended up at third with the single, setting the stage for a Tristan Facer to score the shortstop by hitting into a fielders choice.
UK took the lead in the fourth inning, plating two runs on four hits. McKinney led off with a single to left field and after a quick out, Mike Brown roped his fourth triple of the season. Brown?s three-bagger was a line-drive shot that soared over the centerfielder?s head, allowing McKinney to scoot home. One batter later and DeJesus scored Brown with his second RBI of the night, a single to centerfield.
In the fifth, UK tacked onto its lead, as Brian Spear singled through the left side to lead off the frame. A sacrifice bunt from Ryan Wilkes, his school-record 29th career sacrifice, put Spear on second. A strikeout and a fielding error later allowed Keenan Wiley to connect on a line-drive single up the middle, scoring Spear to make it 4-1 UK.
Evansville narrowed the UK lead in the bottom half of the seventh, plating two runs on three hits. Jim Viscomi led of the frame with a first-pitch single to left field. Kasey Wahl drove in Viscomi with a deep double to the left-center field gap. Pat Tumilty scored Wahl with a single, cutting the UK lead to 4-3.
In the bottom of the eighth the Purple Aces changed the nature of the game with a one-run rally to tie the game. Krider led off with a single and a sacrifice pushed him into scoring position. A walk set the stage for an RBI single to tie the game from Watts, making it 4-4 after eight.
Evansville?s ninth-inning rally began with a quick pop out to third base. Minor followed with a single to centerfield and Troy Kinder drew a walk. The next play looked like it would end the inning and force extra frames, as Andy Smith hit a hard ground ball right at the second baseman, Spear. Spear looked as if he could turn the double play easily but bobbled the ball after securing it in his glove, forcing him to get only the one out at second base. With runners on third and first, Pascoe a freshman with only seven career hits and two career RBI, delivered the heroic single into the gap.
Kentucky returns to action on Friday with a crucial three-game SEC tilt with No. 18 Ole Miss. First pitch on Friday is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT and fans in Lexington (WLAP 630-AM) can catch the action live with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price on the call.
Post-Game Notes
Team Records and Series Notes
Kentucky falls to 31-16-1, while Evansville improves to 32-19.
Kentucky still trails the all-time series with Evansville, 8-5.
Kentucky returns to its week-long road swing with a pivotal three-game SEC set with No. 18 Ole Miss. First pitch on Friday is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT.
Team Notes
Kentucky utilized a season-high nine pitchers for the third time this season. UK had used three pitchers in a game previously this season against Western Kentucky and at Louisville.
UK left 15 runners on base, one shy of a season-high of 16, set on April 1, 2007 against Mississippi State.
Individual Game Notes
Sean Coughlin made his team-leading 66th consecutive start.
Coughlin hit his 16th double of the season.
Senior Mike Brown roped his fourth triple of the season in the fourth, scoring Matt McKinney from first.
UK preseason All-American right hander Greg Dombrowski made his first relief appearance since May 22, 2005 at South Carolina.
