LEXINGTON, Ky. — Arkansas ace Nick Schmidt hurled five strong innings Friday and the No. 9 Razorbacks defeated No. 12 Kentucky 10-2 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The win snapped Kentucky?s 19-game winning streak, which was the best in the school?s 103-year history.
The Wildcats (19-1, 0-1 SEC), who fell behind 4-1 early in the game, received a solid performance from starting pitcher Chris Rusin who toiled 6.0 innings, tossing a career-high 123 pitches. Rusin allowed seven hits and took his first loss in 21 collegiate outings. Schmidt, considered to be one of the nation?s leading left handers, stifled the Kentucky offense, holding the Wildcats to a season-low two runs on just five hits.
Arkansas, whom the league coaches picked to win the SEC Western division, jumped on UK from the get go, as Jake Dugger doubled to left center field on the first pitch of the game and Casey Coon was hit by a pitch two at-bats later. Logan Forsythe then hit a home run to right field to give the Razorbacks an early 3-0 advantage.
Kentucky, which had the nation?s longest regular-season home winning streak ended at 29 games, stranded 11 runners on base.
The Wildcats responded with a run in their half of the opening inning as Mike Brown extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single to center field. He came around to score on a single up the middle by Sean Coughlin, who extended his hitting streak to a team-best 13 games.
The Razorbacks tacked on a run in the second when catcher Brian Walker drew a walk to begin the inning and came around to score on a single by designated hitter Sean Jones.
With Kentucky trailing 5-1 in the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Wildcats posted back-to-back walks to begin the inning. After a wild pitch, Jason Kipnis plated Brian Spear with an RBI ground out to second base.
Arkansas put the game out of reach in the late innings, adding two runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth.
Kentucky and Arkansas meet in game two of the three-game series on Saturday with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. EDT. The game, pitting UK left-hander Andrew Albers against Arkansas righty Jess Todd, will be carried live on WLAP 630-AM with Neil Price.
Post Game Notes
Team Records and Series Notes
No. 12 Kentucky drops to 19-1 and 0-1 in Southeastern Conference play with the loss, while No. 9 Arkansas improves to 15-5 and 1-0 in league play.
The loss snapped Kentucky?s school-record 19-game winning streak.
The Razorbacks lead the all-time series 28-17 and have now won three of the last four meetings between the two teams.
Kentucky returns to action Friday when it opens Southeastern Conference play against Arkansas. The three-game set commences with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. EDT Friday. The game will be carried live on WXRA 1580 AM with Neil Price.
Team Notes
The Wildcats have now plated 236 runs in just 20 games, after setting the school record with 500 runs scored during 2006.
Kentucky set a season-low in runs scored (2) and tied a season-low in hits with five.
Kentucky drew five walks to bring its season total to 146, the best in the SEC.
Individual Notes
Right fielder Mike Brown extended his hitting streak to nine games with a double to left-center field to begin the game.
Sean Coughlin extended his hitting streak to a team-best 13 games.
Kentucky starter Chris Rusin worked six innings and tossed a career-high 123 pitches. Rusin?s loss marks the first career loss for the left-hander in 21 collegiate outings.
