March 7, 2003
Lexington, Ky. –
Kentucky (5-6, 0-0 SEC) had no answer for the firepower of the Purdue (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) offense, as the Boilermakers racked up 21 hits en route to a 16-3 defeat of the Bat Cats. Kentucky’s offense could not respond, scoring just one run after the first inning and totaling only six hits on the afternoon.
The Cats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead behind back-to-back home runs from Spencer Graeter and Mike Breyman in the bottom of the first inning, but Purdue answered right back with two runs of its own in the top of the second on an RBI single from shortstop Mitch Koester. The Boilermakers took a 3-2 advantage in the third inning when John Manuel delivered a single to score Nick McIntyre. From there Purdue tacked on four in the fifth, five in the sixth and four more in the seventh. Steve Deaton scored Kentucky’s third run in the seventh inning when he walked and came around to cross the plate on Casey Gilvin’s single to right field.
UK starter Scott Wade (0-2) was saddled with the loss. Wade threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs, five earned, on 11 hits. Mitch Pruemer (1-0) took the victory, his first of the season.
The same two teams will hook up tomorrow, Saturday, March 8th, in the game two of the three-game series. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
– UK –
