FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Eight of Kentucky’s 11 hits went for extra-bases as the 19th-ranked Wildcats slugged their way past Arkansas, 7-5, in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Baum Stadium.
The win snapped a two-game skid for UK, which improved to 26-10 on the year, including 8-7 in the Southeastern Conference. The Wildcats have already won more games in league play this year than each of the previous two seasons. The Hogs fell to 27-10 and 8-7 in the conference.
The difference in Sunday’s game between the losses Friday and Saturday was the Wildcats control on the mound. Kentucky walked just one batter and did not hit a man after issuing 11 free passes and tagging eight the past two days. Arkansas did manage 13 hits, but UK got key outs when it needed them to pull out the win.
The Wildcats started slow by began to solve Arkansas starter Shaun Seibert in the fourth inning, putting a three-spot on the board. Collin Cowgill got UK started with a leadoff double and Ryan Strieby doubled an out later to tie it 1-1. Michael Bertram singled to make it 2-1 before Billy Grace tripled off the wall in center to cap the rally.
Ryan Wilkes, who got Kentucky’s first hit with a double in the third, stretched the lead to 4-1 with a solo home run to left field to open the fourth. It was only his second career homer, both coming against the Razorbacks. The shot chased Seibert, who gave up four runs on six hits while striking out six.
Arkansas chipped away at the lead with a two-run fifth courtesy of a pair of infield singles by Craig Gentry and Danny Hamblin sandwiched around a Jake Dugger double. A throwing error by Wilkes moved Dugger to third and he scored on a groundout.
Dugger tied it in the seventh with his eighth home run of the season, a solo blast to left field. It was the first long ball allowed by UK starter Greg Dombrowski in 55 innings. A single later, Dombrowski was relieved by Brock Baber, who was the first of three UK relievers in the contest.
Bertram answered with a solo home run, his fourth of the year, off reliever Lee Land in the eighth to put Kentucky ahead 5-4. John Shelby followed with a double to knock out reliever James Gilbert out of the game. Shelby came around for a two-run lead on Matt McKinney’s RBI single.
The Razorbacks threatened in the eighth, putting the tying man on base, but Dewayne Oxford came on to induce an inning-ending double play. He pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season. Matt Robinson got the win after pitching 2/3 of an inning.
Antone DeJesus provided an insurance run in the ninth. He started the inning with a double and came home when Michael Bertram drew a bases-loaded walk.
Danny Hamblin hit a solo shot in the ninth for the final margin.
Dombrowski earned a no decision after hurling 6 1/3 innings and allowing four runs – two earned – on 11 hits. He struck out two and did not walk a batter. Land took the loss for allowing a pair of runs in 1/3 of an inning.
Kentucky returns to action Wednesday when it travels to rival Louisville. The Wildcats beat the rival Cardinals two weeks ago in Lexington, 5-4, with a walk-off single in the ninth inning.
