LEXINGTON ? Kentucky scored in each of the first three innings and relied on its pitching the rest of the way in a 7-1 victory over Tusculum on Wednesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The win was the second straight for Kentucky, which improves to 26-22 on the year. With eight games to play, the Wildcats need just four wins for just their second 30-win season since 1997. Tusculum, ranked 13th in the nation in Division II, fell to 42-14 overall.
Kentucky struck quickly as J.B. Schmidt led off with a single, took third on Antone DeJesus? single and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
A five-run second inning broke the game open for the Wildcats. With one out, Pioneer starter Eric Butler walked consecutive batters before an error on Ryan Wilkes grounder left the bases loaded. Schmidt and DeJesus then drew back-to-back RBI walks before a Shaun Lehmann sacrifice fly. Michael Bertram capped the scoring with a two-run double down the left-field line.
In the third, Tusculum answered with a run on Adam Beachum?s RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-1. However, Kentucky matched the Pioneer?s in the home half of the innings when Wilkes singled home Collin Cowgill, who led off with a base hit to center.
Neither team would cross the plate again the Wildcats bullpen hurled six shutout innings while the offense stranded seven runners in its final five times at bat.
Craig Snipp got the win for Kentucky by tossing the first three innings and allowing one run on three hits. Matt Robinson, Adam Revelette, Aaron Tennyson and Scott Green polished off the victory by firing six shutout innings and combining to give up four hits. The group struck out seven while walking just one.
Kentucky returns to action on Friday at 6:30 p.m. when it begins a three-game series with Vanderbilt. Game two follows Saturday at 2 p.m. with the series finale set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
During the series, two fans will win floor seats to the UK-Louisville men?s basketball game on both Friday and Sunday with a pair of floor seats to the UK-North Carolina game being given away during Saturday?s game.
All three games of the series will feature other giveaways as well, including free airline tickets, UK football helmets, UK baseball jerseys and rounds of golf at the University Club.
