April 21, 1998
Kentucky blasted six home runs and scored a season-high 20 runs, including 10 in the fifth inning, as they won easily 20-3 over Murray State Tuesday in a seven-inning game at Cliff Hagan Stadium on the UK campus. Eleven different players combined for 20 UK hits in its third straight win. “Everything just clicked today. Our pitching was solid and the bats just came alive for us,” UK coach Keith Madison said. “Our guys are building confidence with each game we play. I was really impressed with the way the reserves stepped in and contributed.”
It was the most runs UK has scored since it put up 26 against Marshall on April 9, 1996. UK had 21 hits earlier this season against Ohio University. UK (18-24) got out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a RBI double by Jason Pasero and a two-run homer by Aaron McGlone. McGlone went 2-for-2 with a career-high four RBIs. Murray State (16-29) put a run on the board in the fourth with a solo homer by Craig Delk off UK starter Brandon Webb. UK increased its lead to 7-1 in the fourth on a RBI double by David Cheatle and a RBI single by Josh Loggins. Loggins extended his hitting streak to 10 games with the hit.
UK exploded for 10 runs in the fifth inning, the most since it totaled 16 against Marshall on April 9, 1996. Cheatle started things with a RBI single. Two batters later, Loggins connected on a three-run homer to give the Wildcats a 11-1 advantage. After Jason Colemire was hit by a pitch, Andy Bendix and Justin Bunch hit back-to-back homers. Bendix has a team-leading 11 home runs. The blistering bats continued with two outs as Pasero nailed his first home run of the season to left field. Madison replaced six starters at the end of the fifth and the reserves didnit disappoint. Austin Madison and Nate Linder led off the sixth with doubles. It was Madisonis first career hit. Freshman Beau Moore cleared the bases with a three-run homer to center field, the first of his career. Webb (3-3), who was on a 50-pitch limit, picked up the victory after allowing only two hits and one run in four innings. Sophomore Ben Shaffar allowed three hits and two runs, none of which were earned, in three innings of relief. Shawn Collins (1-2) scattered eight hits and seven runs in four innings, picking up the loss.
Pasero and Cheatle both went 3-for-4. Freshman John Wilson, Andy Green, Loggins and Bendix had two hits apiece.
UK continues home non-conference play on Wednesday against Eastern Kentucky at 6 p.m.
