Box Score
Behind a complete game from Lance Cormier, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide handed the University of Kentucky baseballteam its worst defeat of the season, 15-1, on Saturday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The Tide pounded out 15 hits and capitalized on eight walks issued by Wildcat hurlers. With the victory, UA improved to 15-7, 3-2 in theSoutheastern Conference while UK dropped to 10-10, 2-3 in conference play.
Saturdays game marked the second straight afternoon that an Alabama hurler had thrown a complete game. With the win, Cormierimproved to 4-3 on the season and lowered his ERA from 1.91 to 1.54.
The Tide erupted for four runs in the second inning. After UA had loaded the bases , Adam Pavkovich singled, driving in two runs.Casey Lambert followed with a two-run single of his own, putting the Crimson Tide up 4-0.
UA added four additional runs in the fifth, in the process chasing Wildcat starter Joseph Blanton from the game after 4 1/3 innings.
UK got on the board in the bottom half of the fifth. Jeff Tolotti began the inning with a singled and moved to second on a pinch-hit infieldsingle by Austin Madison, who was making his first appearance since being injured on Feb. 16. Beau Moores single then drove homeTolotti.
Bama added two runs in the seventh, one in the eight, and four more in the ninth to make the final tally 15-1.
Cormier scattered 11 hits, struck out seven and issued only one walk as the tide took a 2-0 series lead over the Cats. Brent Boyd andAdam Pavkovich led UAs hitting attack with three hits apiece and Casey Lambert collected three RBI.
Joseph Blanton suffered the loss for the Cats. Beau Moore supplied much of the UK offense, going 4-for-4 on the day, including a350-foot single of the right-center field scoreboard. In his return, Madison went 2-for three.
Kentucky will look to avoid the sweep when the two teams meet again on Sunday afternoon. Mark Michael will be on the mound forUK. B.J. Green is scheduled to start for UK. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EST.
