April 13, 2002
Gordon Tyler’s home run in the bottom of the eighth inning provided the University of Kentucky baseball team with its only run of the game, as the Wildcats fell 10-1 to the Crimson Tide of Alabama Saturday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium. With the win, Alabama (31-5, 11-3 SEC) extended its all-time series lead over UK to 41-24, posting a 6-13 mark in Lexington.
Tyler’s slam, the third this season, came as only one of two hits on the contest for UK (14-19, 3-11 SEC). After going 0-5 last night against the Tide and snapping his SEC-leading 13 game hitting streak, junior Brad Pickrell beat the throw to first base on a bunt in the fourth inning, the other lone hit in the game for the Bat Cats.
Scott Wade (3-7), who came away with the loss on the mound for Kentucky, gave up nine hits and four earned runs in 4.1 innings on the night. In relief, junior Rob Corrado and freshman Adam Kunkel combined to allow six more hits and two runs from the Crimson Tide.
For UA, sophomore left-hander Jeffrey Norris (3-0) pitched a complete game, picking up his third win of the season. Sophomore Adam Pavkovich homered in the sixth inning, marking the 13th straight game with a home run for the Tide. Third baseman Allen Rice finished 4-for-5 at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in four for Alabama.
Alabama clinched the series with the win and picked up its fifth win in a row over the Wildcats, dating back to March 12, 2000, when Kentucky won 11-10 in Tuscaloosa. The third-ranked Tide is currently on an eight game winning streak, with four of those victories coming against ranked opponents.
The Cats return to action tomorrow in the final game of the series with Alabama. Sophomore right-hander Cory Hahn (3-4, 3.51 ERA), who pitched a complete game last weekend in a 6-1 win over Tennessee, will start for UK, while Alabama will send senior righty Shane Sanders (4-1, 3.96 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET.
Alabama 004 131 100 - 10 15 0Kentucky 000 000 010 - 1 2 1Win: Norris (3-0)Loss: Wade (3-7)Time: 2:12Attendance: 489
– UK –
