LEXINGTON ? Kentucky scored four runs in the first and added four in the third as it cruised to a 10-7 victory over Buffalo on Saturday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The win is the fourth straight for the Wildcats, who improved to 5-1 on the season. Buffalo fell to 0-2. Kentucky will send Kalen Gibson to the mound as it goes for the series sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Bulls counter with Sean McWilliams.
Four Wildcats had at least two hits as Kentucky pounded out 14 for the game. Of the 14, half went for extra bases. Brian Hastings led the way with a three hits and two runs batted in. Collin Cowgill had two doubles and two runs scored from the leadoff spot.
?I was really pleased with the way we created some offensive innings early in the game,? said Kentucky coach John Cohen. ?We got people on base, which we have been doing, and we were able to move them over and get them home today. That has been a problem for us the past couple times out but I thought we were better today.?
Cowgill and Michael Bertram go the Wildcats going in the first with back-to-back walks and were brought home when Hastings singled and Billy Grace doubled. Hastings later scored on a John Shelby sacrifice fly and Grace was plated on JP Lowen?s double to right center.
In the third, Shelby led off with a single, stole second and third and came home on a one-out single from JB Schmidt. Kentucky then got a pair of two-out doubles from Cowgill and Hastings sandwiched around a Bertram single for three more runs and an 8-2 lead.
The Wildcats closed out their scoring in the fourth. A Lowen sacrifice fly scored Kevin Caldwell and Fritts doubled to plate Shelby.
The lead remained at 10-2 entering the seventh when Buffalo struck for a pair of runs on Al Barbato?s pinch-hit single.
The Bulls tacked on two runs in the eighth to cut the lead to 10-6. Things got interesting later in the frame as Buffalo loaded the bases with two outs, bringing the tying run to the plate. However, Brock Baber entered from the bullpen and promptly got Andy Wengert to ground out on one pitch.
Baber, a redshirt freshman from Sharpsburg, Ky., worked the ninth for the save. He was the fourth pitcher of the day for Kentucky, all of which were freshmen. Scott Green started for the Wildcats and hurled five innings to his first career win. He allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out six while walking just one.
?We know Scott can throw a little better, but he had another solid outing in just his second time out there,? Cohen said. ?We?re getting young guys experience. We had four freshmen go out there and they are gaining experience and getting something positive out of these games.?
Matt Johnson took the loss after being tagged for eight runs on nine hits in just 2 2/3 innings.
