March 24, 2002
Junior center fielder Seth Morris smacked his third home run in two games to extend his team-leading hit streak to eight games, but it was not enough as Mississippi State overpowered Morris and the Kentucky baseball team, 13-3, at Cliff Hagan Stadium Sunday afternoon. The win today clinched the series for MSU and gave Coach Ron Polk his 900th win at the helm of the Bulldogs.
“You have to give Mississippi State a lot of credit,” Coach Keith Madison said. “Their hitters had a great approach at the plate against our pitchers. We were able to get them out on pitches away yesterday, and they made the necessary adjustments to hit the ball well today. They also got a great pitching performance from Joey Collums.”
The Bulldogs (12-7-1, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) pounded out a season-high 19 hits, including a season-high eight doubles and two home runs. Junior right-hander Scott Wade (3-4) suffered the loss for the Wildcats (11-12, 2-4 SEC), giving up nine runs (all earned) on 10 hits before exiting in the fifth inning.
Sophomore third baseman Cory Hahn was the only Wildcat to post multiple hits on the day, going 2-for-4, including a RBI double down the right field line in the Cats’ three-run ninth. Morris, leading UK with seven home runs, launched his third of the weekend in the late rally. The blast by Morris pushed across Brent Stephens who reached on a one-out single to right.
MSU lefty Joey Collums (2-1) yielded singles to Spencer Graeter and Brad Pickrell to open the game, but worked through it and a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning to throw seven scoreless innings with one walk and six strikeouts.
Mark Galvin and Jeff Archer tossed an inning each and Hahn moved from third to the mound in the seventh to pitch three shutout innings for UK.
The Wildcats do not have a mid-week game scheduled and will return to action this Friday, March 29 as they play host to No. 16 Ole Miss in the first night game at the newly-renovated Cliff Hagan Stadium. First pitch between the Rebels and Cats is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
Mississippi State040414000 - 13 19 2Kentucky000000003 - 3 7 0Win: Collums (2-1)Loss: Wade (3-4)Time: 2:30Attendance: 502
– UK –
