March 21, 1998

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee pounded out 21 hits and scored six runs in the first inning as they cruised to a 16-5 victory over Kentucky Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennesse (18-6, 5-3) sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning. Justin Ross had a leadoff double in the first and scored on a Sonny Cortez blast over the right field wall. Donnie Ross also added a two-run homer in the inning. UK starter Josh Paxton (1-3) lasted only one-third of an inning, allowing four hits and four runs. UK’s David Cheatle allowed eight hits and three earned runs in 4.2 innings of relief.

Tennessee scored eight runs in the first inning on Friday night in the series opener.

UK’s John Wilson put the Wildcats on the board with a solo homer to left field in the second. Tennessee answered with two runs in the second and third inning. The Wildcats cut the deficit to 10-4 with an Aaron McGlone RBI double in the third and an Andy Bendix solo homer in the fourth. It was Bendix’s second home run of the series and team-leading fifth of the season. Mark Murphy hit a solo homer in the seventh and Nate Linder added an RBI single in the ninth to round out the Wildcats scoring.

Tennessee added four runs in the ninth with five hits, three of which were doubles. UT’s Luke Hudson allowed six hits and four earned runs in seven innings. Amos Burdine threw two innings of one-hit ball. The two pitchers didn’t allow more than four UK batters to come to the plate each inning.

The series wraps up tomorrow at 2 p.m.