In a 13-inning, three hour and thirty-seven minute marathon, the Arkansas Razorbacks pulled out a 9-5 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats in the rubber game of a three-game Southeastern Conference series on Sunday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium.In a 13-inning, three hour and thirty-seven minute marathon, the Arkansas Razorbacks pulled out a 9-5 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats in the rubber game of a three-game Southeastern Conference series on Sunday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium. 29, 2001
In a 13-inning, three hour and thirty-seven minute marathon, the Arkansas Razorbacks pulled out a 9-5 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats in the rubber game of a three-game Southeastern Conference series on Sunday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The game went to extra innings for the second time in the series, as the Cats repeated their comeback performance from Friday by tying up the game in the ninth. Kentucky was down 4-2 when Morgan Embry reached first on a fielder’s choice, before Taylor McInnis was inserted as the pinch runner. Spencer Preston stepped to the plate with two down, and with an 0-2 count, hit an opposite-field game-tying home run to send the teams to the 10th inning.
The squads went scoreless in the 10th and the 11th, due in part to relief pitcher Joseph Blanton holding the Hogs scoreless with the bases loaded in the 11th. After Arkansas went up 5-4 in the top of the 12th, aided by an unearned run, UK’s Cory Hahn led off with a single. After Austin Madison was inserted as a pinch runner, Jeff Tolotti popped up to the pitcher on a failed sacrifice attempt. Brad Pickrell then singled to left field, moving Madison to second, and bringing Beau Moore to the plate. Moore came through with a clutch single to center field, his fifth hit of the day, loading the bases. UA reliever Scott Roehl then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Madison to score the tying run, putting the winning run at third. However with one out, Vince Harrison was struck out, and Seth Morris popped out to shortstop, ending the Cats chances of sealing the game.
In the top of the 13th, Arkansas took advantage of its opportunities, plating four runs by way of five hits, thus winning the game.
With the loss, UK fell to 19-29 on the season, 6-18 in SEC play. Arkansas improved to 23-26, 8-16 in conference play. The series win marked the Razorbacks third consecutive series win over the Wildcats.
Moore posted a career-high five hits, four singles and a double, in addition to swiping two bases. Blanton suffered the loss, falling to 3-5 on the season. Arkansas’ Roehl was credited with the win, moving to 3-4 on the season. UA’s Jared Manatt secured his second save of the season.
The Cats return to action on Tuesday, May 1 at 6 p.m., when they play host to intrastate rival Morehead State at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
