March 13, 1999
LEXINGTON, Kty. – UK starter Brandon Webb (1-1) pitched his first complete game and recordeda career-high ten strikeouts on the afternoon as the Kentucky Wildcats(4-10, 1-2) won their first conference game of the season, beatingVanderbilt (10-7, 2-1) in the second game of a doubleheader, 4-1.
The Commodores scored first in the top of the third inning on designatedhitter Mark Prior’s solo home run. The Wildcats answered in the bottom ofthe inning on shortstop Andy Green’s RBI double to score third baseman KyleHooker from second.
Webb and Vanderbilt pitcher Andy Beal dueled until the sixth inning whenthe Wildcats scored two runs to take the lead, 3-1. Green singled to openthe inning and advanced to second and third on a ground out and stolenbase. He scored on a Beal wild pitch. Catcher John Wilson walked and laterscored on right fielder Breck Price’s single.
Kentucky added another run to their total in the eighth inning and heldVanderbilt scoreless in the top of the ninth to win the game, 4-1.In the first game of the afternoon, Vanderbilt recorded their secondconference win by beating the Wildcats, 9-4.
UK scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and one in the thirdto take the early lead, 3-0. The Commodores were held scoreless until thesixth inning, scoring one run on shortstop Matt Kata’s sacrifice fly. Theyadded five runs in the seventh to take the lead, 6-3. Designated hitterAndy Kropf led off the inning with a single and first baseman HunterBledsoe was hit by a Ben Shaffar pitch. The two men later scored on catcherClayton McCullough’s single. Three more men crossed the plate before theinning ended.
The Wildcats allowed three runs in the ninth inning off reliever JasonChaney and lost the game, 9-4.
Juniors Breck Price and Aaron McGlone extended their hitting streaks toeight games on the afternoon and Shaffar had ten strikeouts in six inningsto improve his team-leading season total to 42 strikeouts in 29 inningspitched.
The Wildcats finish their opening homestand Tuesday, March 16, at 3 p.m.against Miami of Ohio before returning to conference play as they travel toOxford, Miss. to battle the Ole Miss Rebels.
