March 31 1998
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky’s Jeff Meade had an RBI bunt single in the bottom of the ninth to score David Cheatle as the Wildcats won 10-9 over Belmont despite losing a seven-run lead in the eighth inning. It was UK’s 12th home non-conference win in the last 13 games.
UK (12-16) took an 8-1 lead into the eighth inning before allowing 13 Belmont batters to the plate. Belmont (15-13) scored eight runs in the eighth thanks to three hit batters, a walk and a grand slam by Shawn Pemberton off UK reliever Austin Madison.
UK battled back in the ninth thanks to a leadoff home run by freshman John Wilson to left field. It was Wilson’s fourth homer of the season and the team’s 13th in its last 14 games. Senior Justin Bunch followed with a double to right center. Cheatle pinch-ran for Bunch and advanced to third on a balk. After a Beau Moore fly out, Robert Newton was intentionally walked to put runners on first and third. Meade slapped a bunt down the right-field line that proved to be the game-winner.
UK’s Josh Paxton had his best outing of the season despite not receiving a decision. Paxton allowed only four hits and one run in six innings of work. Aaron McGlone (1-2) picked up his first victory of the season in relief, allowing only one hit and striking out three in 1.1 innings. Trailing 1-0 in the second, UK exploded for four runs on five hits.
Andy Green knocked Jeff Meade in with an RBI double and McGlone followed with an RBI single. Josh Loggins knocked McGlone in with a single and Jason Colemire followed with his first triple of the season. UK scored two more runs in the fourth with RBI singles by McGlone and Green. McGlone gave the Wildcats a 7-1 lead in the sixth with his third RBI hit of the game, a double. Freshman Will Crumbaugh, who is 3-for-3 this season, added an RBI single in the seventh.
Meade, who was making his eighth start of the season, went a career-high 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. McGlone and Green had three hits apiece for the Wildcats. Wilson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Adam Bickell (2-1) picked up the loss after allowing three hits and two runs in 1.1 innings. Whit Gilbert led the Bruins with three hits. Jim Burton went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
UK continues home non-conference play on Wednesday against Xavier at 6 p.m. Freshman Bradd Heyerly (1-0) will take the mound for the Wildcats.
