March 25, 1998
Kentucky’s Josh Loggins broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh inning with a two-run home run as the Wildcats prevailed 8-5 over Austin Peay Tuesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium on the UK campus. Kentucky has won 10 of its last 11 home non-conference games. Eight different players had hits for the Wildcats. UK has won a season-high three straight games. UK (11-13) got on the board in the first inning. David Cheatle hit a one-out single and advanced to third on a single by Aaron McGlone. Loggins struck out on a pitch in the dirt and Austin Peay’s catcher Michael Frey made a errant throw on a McGlone stolen base attempt, allowing Cheatle to score. Loggins came back in the second inning and nailed an RBI double that scored McGlone, giving the Wildcats an early 2-0 lead.
Mark Murphy gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with an RBI double in the fourth inning. Austin Peay (13-15) responded with two runs in the fifth on three hits off UK starter Bradd Heyerly. Heyerly went 4.1 innings of work in his second start of the season, allowing five hits and two runs before giving way to Josh Paxton in the fifth. UK got two runs of its own in the fifth. After a Cheatle single, Andy Bendix knocked him in with one of his two doubles in the game. Jason Colemire followed with an RBI single up the middle. Austin Peay battled back in the sixth, tying the game at 5-5 thanks to a two-run single by Frey.
After a leadoff walk by Cheatle in the seventh, Loggins then provided the game-winning hit. Loggins went 2-for-5 at the plate with a homer, double and three RBIs. Cheatle went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and an RBI, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Freshman John Wilson extended his hitting streak to seven games. Bendix added two hits.
Ben Shaffar (1-1) picked up the victory in 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing only two hits and striking out one. Cheatle earned his first save of the season in one inning of relief. Bill Tarajack (1-5) allowed 11 hits and seven runs in a losing effort. Aaron Sledde and Frey had three hits apiece. UK continues its homestand this weekend with a three-game series against defending national champion LSU. The first game is set for Friday at 6 p.m.
