March 29, 2003
Lexington, Ky. –
Kentucky’s Heath Castle gave up only two runs to Arkansas, but the Bat Cat offense could not figure out the Razorback staff, as UK fell 2-1 to the Razorbacks at Cliff Hagan Stadium Saturday afternoon, March 29th. The Cats (10-16, 0-8 Southeastern Conference) dropped their second game of the series after losing 9-2 last night to UA (21-5, 4-4 SEC) in the series opener.
Pitching dominated the second game between the Cats and Razorbacks, as neither team managed to cross the plate through the first four innings of play. Kentucky broke the trend in its half of the fifth. After Jake Kungl led off the inning with a single that turned into an extra base with the help of a Razorback error, Caleb Brock sent him to third on a bunt down the third baseline. With no outs and both runners in scoring position, Joe Naill laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Kungl for the first run of the afternoon.
Arkansas wasted no time in tying the score. Andrew Wishy took the first pitch from Castle over the left field wall in the sixth inning to knot the game at 1-1. The Razorbacks weren’t done yet, as Hoss Pratt and Wishy put together back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with no outs for Clay Goodwin. He delivered, hitting a shot to Naill at shortstop that turned into a double play, but scored Pratt for what proved to be the game-winning run. After the run, Castle was replaced by Kalen Gibson, who finished out the inning unscathed for the Cats.
Despite a strong 7 2/3 innings from Castle (1-4), Kentucky got no help from its offense, producing only five hits and stranding seven base runners. Boyd Goodner (2-0) took the win for Arkansas, going three innings with no hits or runs after replacing Clint Brannon in the sixth. Caton Hall recorded his third save for the Razorbacks after setting down the last Kentucky batter when UA pitcher Scott Roehl got hit by a line drive with two out in the ninth.
The Cats and Razorbacks finish up the weekend series tomorrow at Cliff Hagan Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. EST. UK will be sending Scott Wade (1-3, 5.63 ERA) to the mound, while the Razorbacks’ Jarrett Gardner (3-1, 4.91 ERA) will throw first pitch for UA. All of the action can be heard live with Drew Deener on WLXG 1300 AM.
– UK –
