Box Score
ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the second consecutive game, first inning mistakes proved too much for the University of Kentucky baseball team to overcome, as the Wildcats fell to Appalachian St. 6-4, Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Winthrop Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C.

Appalachian St. jumped on UK starter Cory Hahn in the first inning, scoring four runs on five hits, putting the Wildcats in a big hole.

UK (2-5) managed to push a run across in the top of the second when Caleb Brock singled home Spencer Preston, who had doubled to lead off the inning.

ASU (1-2) regained its four run lead in the third and the teams traded runs in the fourth, making the score 6-2 in the Mountaineers favor.

Neither team scored again until the Cats pushed two runs across in the top of the eighth. Preston’s third double of the afternoon drove home Vince Harrison, who had reach base on a walk. Gordon Tyler then knocked in Preston with an RBI single. But that would be all the UK offense would muster as Appalachian St. closer shut the door on the Cats.

Preston, who went 3-for-4 on the day, all doubles, was the only Cat to record more than one hit. Brock drove home two of UK’s four runs.

Rodney Lemonds pitched seven and two-thirds strong innings for Appalachian St and picked up the win, his first of the season.

Hahn was saddled with his first loss of the season.

Mark Galvin and Jon Hooker each pitched well in relief for the Wildcats. Galvin, a freshman making his collegiate debut, went two innings, giving up three hits and one earned run. Hooker threw three innings, striking out four hitters and allowing only two hits.

The Wildcats will return to action Friday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. ET, when they travel to Tucson, Ariz., to take on the University of Washington in the Illini Desert Classic.