March 8, 1998
NASHVILLE< tenn.=””> Junior Josh Loggins hit a two-run single in the top of the ninth to lead UK to a 13-9 win over No. 25 Vanderbilt Sunday at McGugin Field in Nashville. The win snapped a school-record 13-game home winning streak for the Commodores and gave UK its first SEC win of the season.
The Wildcats had to fend off a late Vanderbilt rally in the bottom of the ninth. The game was tied, 7-7, heading into the ninth before UK exploded for six runs and five hits in the inning to secure the victory. Andy Green led off the ninth inning with a single and David Cheatle followed with a walk. Sophomore Aaron McGlone moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Loggins then connected on his second hit of the game. After a Jason Colemire single and Andy Bendix walk, John Wilson cleared the bases with a double. In the eighth, Wilson tied the game at 7-7 with a two-run single.
Vanderbilt (13-2, 2-1) took control of the game early, scoring four runs in the first three innings. UK (6-8, 1-2) battled back in the fourth with a rally. Cheatle had a leadoff double and scored on a McGlone single. After Loggins reached on a fielders choice, Colemire knocked him in with his second double of the game. Justin Bunch trimmed the Commodore lead to 4-3 with a sacrifice fly.
Bunch tied the game at 4-4 in the sixth with an RBI single. UK took its first lead, 5-4, in the seventh with a two-out rally. After Green drew a walk, Cheatle knocked him in with a single to center field. Vanderbilt responded in the seventh with a three-run homer by preseason All-American Clinton Johnston to take a 7-5 lead.
UK starter Brandon Webb allowed only five hits and two earned runs in six innings of work, the longest outing of the season by a UK pitcher. Closer Matt Borne (2-1) went 2.2 innings, allowing four hits and two runs for his second victory of the season. Reliever Mike Byrd (1-1) picked up the loss in 0.2 innings, allowing two hits and two runs.
Colemire went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, two doubles and three RBIs. Colemire finished the series with eight hits in 13 at-bats. Loggins, Wilson and Cheatle had two hits apiece.
