April 8, 1998

Western Carolina scored all six of its runs in the final three innings as they erased a four-run deficit to win 6-5 over Kentucky Wednesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium on the UK campus. The loss leaves UK coach Keith Madison one win shy of his 600th career victory. UK (13-21) took a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning. Western Carolinais Chris Moore tied the game with a one-out home run to right-center field off UK reliever David Cheatle. Kevin Grieve hit a double down the right-field line to score Eric Johnson for the eventual game-winner. UK took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Andy Bendix that scored Josh Loggins. Loggins put UK ahead 2-0 in the fifth with an RBI double off the scoreboard in right field. Bendix followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Aaron McGlone from third. Western Carolina (28-9) fell behind 4-0 in the sixth after walking David Cheatle with the bases loaded. Both teams added a run in the seventh. The Catamounts rallied in the eighth with three runs off UK reliever Ben Shaffar. UK starter Josh Paxton allowed only six hits in seven innings of work, his longest outing of the season. Paxton gave up one run and struck out two. Cheatle (1-1) picked up his first loss of the season after allowing four hits and two runs in 1.2 innings.

Erik Turnrose (3-0) remained unbeaten after giving up only one hit in one-third inning. Third baseman Jeff Sziksai led the Catamounts at the plate with a 3-for-5 day. Loggins went 3-for-5 for UK with a double and a RBI. Four UK players had two hits apiece. Senior Mark Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. UK returns to conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Mississippi State. The first game of the series on Friday will be televised by Fox Sports South. Game time is set for 7:30 EST.