May 8, 1998
LEXINGTON, Kty.– Kentucky junior Josh Loggins broke a 7-7 tie in the bottom of the 11th inning with a leadoff home run to right field as the Wildcats rallied back from a two-run deficit to win 8-7 over fourth-ranked South Carolina Friday evening at Cliff Hagan Stadium on the UK campus.
“Josh just missed the ball on his previous at-bat,” UK coach Keith Madison said. “He got the ball solid on his last at-bat. It was a clutch hit and he has been doing those things for us all season.”
The game featured seven lead changes. UK entered the game with a 2-24 mark when trailing after eight innings. UK can guarantee itself a spot in the SEC Tournament with a win on Saturday or Sunday.
“We want to go out and do it ourselves,” Madison said. “We don’t want to depend on anybody else. The team showed a lot of heart and they didn’t give up. For a coach, that’s a beautiful thing to see.”
UK (25-28, 11-17) trailed 7-5 heading into the bottom of the 10th. Freshman Beau Moore led off the inning with a single to left field. After a Justin Bunch fly out, sophomore Andy Green connected on a two-run homer to left field to tie the game. It was Green’s third homer of the season.
South Carolina (41-13, 18-9) took a 5-3 lead into the ninth. Green walked and Cheatle followed with a single. Both runners advanced a base on a bunt single by Aaron McGlone. South Carolina right-fielder Adam Poe dropped a fly ball hit by Loggins, enabling Green to score and cutting the deficit to 5-4. Cheatle scored to tie the game at 5-5 on a fielders choice by John Wilson.
Sophomore Josh Paxton (5-3) earned the victory in two innings of relief, allowing three hits and two runs. UK senior Matt Borne went a career-high nine innings, allowing six hits and five runs in the process. Borne struck out seven in the longest outing by a Wildcat pitcher this season.
Loggins went a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBIs, tying his career high. Besides his team-leading 13th homer, he also connected on his 19th double of the season. Senior David Cheatle went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a double. Green and freshman John Wilson had two hits apiece. Kip Bouknight scattered seven hits and three runs in seven innings of work. Patrick Sexton (2-1) took the loss in 0.2 innings of work, allowing the homer to Josh Loggins.
The series resumes on Saturday at 2 p.m. Freshman Brandon Webb (4-4) will take the mound for the Wildcats. Brett Jodie (6-5) will pitch for the Gamecocks.
