March 3, 1998
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior Mark Murphy hit a bases loaded single in the 11th inning to propel Kentucky (4-6) to a 11-10 victory over Lincoln Memorial (7-3) in its first home game of the season.
It was UK’s first win in three games. Murphy, who had a career-high five RBIs, gave UK a 5-4 lead in the fourth inning with his first career grand slam. It capped a five-run inning by the Wildcats after Lincoln Memorial had manufactured four runs in the first three innings. Lincoln Memorial tied the game at 5-5 in the fifth. Travis Daniels hit a leadoff triple off UK reliever Josh Paxton and Jeff Beam had a sacrifice fly to even the score. UK responded in the fifth thanks to a RBI double by senior Jason Colemire, giving the Wildcats a 6-5 lead. Colemire extended his hittting streak to 10 games.
Lincoln Memorial tied the game again in the seventh, 6-6, after Daniels hit a two-out single and scored on Beam’s double. UK seemed to take control in its half of the seventh, scoring four runs on two hits. David Cheatle, who’s hitting a team-leading .405, reached on an error and advanced to third on a Aaron McGlone groundout. Senior Josh Loggins knocked Cheatle in with a double and eventually scored on a balk. After Justin Bunch drew a walk, freshman John Wilson nailed his first career home run to left field, giving the Wildcats a 10-6 lead.
Lincoln Memorial wouldn’t go away as they scored three runs in the eighth inning highlighted by a two-run single by Steven Johnson. The Railsplitters tied the game at 10-10 in the ninth with a RBI single by Cameron Andrews off UK closer Matt Borne.
Borne (1-1) struck out four and allowed three hits and a run in 3.2 innings, earning the victory. UK’s Tim Rowland, making his first start of the season, allowed five hits and four runs in 4.0 innings. Lincoln Memorial’s Brad Reeder, a native of Greenup, Ky., allowed eight hits and six runs in 6.0 innings. Reliever Brad Voyles (1-1) picked up the loss. Loggins and Colemire had three hits apiece. McGlone had two hits, two runs scored and a RBI.
UK continues its two-game homestand on Wednesday against Ohio University at 3 p.m.
