March 20, 1998

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—17th-ranked Tennessee never looked back after putting eight runs on the board in the first inning highlighted by a grand slam and Kentucky couldn’t recover as they lost 13-5 to the Volunteers on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

All 13 Volunteer runs were scored with two outs. Tennessee scored the eight first-inning runs on just four hits, including a Justin Ross grand slam. It was the fourth grand slam given up by a UK pitcher this season. UK starter Brandon Webb also walked in two runs. Webb (1-1) was shelled for five hits and eight runs in two innings.

Andy Bendix put Kentucky on the board in the third with a solo homer to left field, his fourth of the season. Ross answered in the bottom of the third with a solo homer, increasing the Volunteer lead to 9-1. UKis Aaron McGlone led off the fourth with a solo homer to left field, his second of the season.

UT widened the margin to 11-2 in the fifth thanks to a two-run double by Sonny Cortez. UK manufactured a run in the sixth after McGlone singled and stole second. McGlone eventually scored on a Josh Loggins groundout. UTis Josh Morris had a two-run triple in the sixth, extending the lead to 13-3.

Andy Bendix went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. McGlone had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI. UT’s Kurt Scott (4-1) allowed 10 hits and five runs in his first complete game of the season. Ross led UT with two hits and five RBIs. Jeff Pickler went 3-for-4.

UK fell to 8-12 overall and 2-5 in the SEC. UT improved to 17-6 and 4-3 in the SEC. The second game of the three-game series is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday. Josh Paxton (1-1, 5.75) will take the mound for Kentucky while Tennessee counters with Luke Hudson (3-1, 6.06).