May 11, 2003
Lexington, Ky. –
Spencer Graeter delivered a game winning single in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Kentucky baseball team past Vanderbilt, 6-5, Sunday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Cats secured their third Southeastern Conference series of the year with the victory, taking back-to-back games against the Commodores after falling Friday night in the series opener. The Cats (22-29, 8-18 SEC) also said good-bye to five seniors before the game, as Caleb Brock, Gordon Tyler, Scott Wade, Russ Rutherford and Brad Pickrell were honored in pre-game Senior Day festivities.
With two outs in the 10th, Joe Naill popped up to the Vanderbilt second baseman, who dropped the ball for the Commodores’ (24-25, 11-16 SEC) third error of the game, setting up Graeter’s game winning RBI that dropped in shallow right field. Naill rounded the bases and slid home safely to score all the way from first base, securing the 6-5 victory for UK.
The Cats tacked on three runs on as many hits in the third. Brock extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a chopper to left field, and advanced to third on two wild pitches from Vandy starter Ryan Mullins. Back-to-back singles from Rutherford and Naill brought in Brock, and Graeter followed with a shot that was bobbled by VU centerfielder Matt Zeller to score the base runners and give UK an early 3-0 advantage.
Vandy pulled ahead in the sixth, as Jonathan Douillard delivered a bases-clearing triple to tie the game at 3-3. With two on and two out, the Commodores added two more when UK pitcher Seth Stanley tried to pick Ryan Klosterman off second base. The throw was off target, going into the outfield and scoring the two go-ahead runs for a 5-3 Vanderbilt lead.
Rutherford made the most of his senior day, going 2-for-5 at the plate with three RBI. One of those hits came in the bottom of the sixth. After Pickrell led off the inning with a stand up double, Rutherford launched his second home run of the season, a two-run slam over the left field wall to knot the game at 5-5.
UK had a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth. With the two outs and a full count, Brock was issued a walk to juice the bases. Pickrell thought he was knicked by Vandy pitcher Jensen Lewis on his first pitch, but the home plate umpire ruled what would have brought in the winning run a ball, and Pickrell popped out to end the frame and send the Cats to extra innings.
The Cats finish up their home slate this week, hosting intrastate rivals Western Kentucky and Morehead State Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Game times are set for 6 p.m. EST both days.
— UK —
