Box Scores
The University of Kentucky baseball team dropped a pair of close games on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Illini Desert Classic in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats struggled to score runs and capitalize in crucial situations as they fell to Brigham Young University, 4-2, and the University of Washington, 3-2.
In the day’s first game, BYU (8-8) was able to manufacture a run in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff batter Cameron Coughlan walked and later advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Shane Belliston picked up the RBI on a groundout and the Cougars took a 1-0 lead.
The Cougars added three runs in the third. Catcher Michael Davies homered to lead off the inning and give BYU a 2-0 lead. Tim Law, son of Cougar coach Vance Law, followed up with a single to left and scored on an RBI triple by Coughlan. Coughlan scored for the second time on an RBI groundout by Belliston, putting the Cougars up 4-0.
UK (2-7) got on the board in the fourth. With one out and Seth Morris at first, Caleb Brock singled, advancing Morris to second. BYU first baseman Ty Haguewood made a diving stop, robbing Spencer Graeter of a hit, but made an errant throw, allowing Morris to score and cut the Cougar lead to 4-1.
Wildcats starter Scott Wade was replaced by Cory Hahn in the bottom of the sixth. Hahn held the Cougars at bay, but UK was unable to push any more runs across the plate until the ninth.
With one out in the ninth, Jeff Tolotti doubled down the right field line. Morris followed up with a single, advancing Tolotti to third and putting runners at the corners for the Cats. Brock grounded out to shortstop, scoring Tolotti and making the scoring 4-2 in favor of BYU. With a runner at second and the tying run at the plate, Cougar reliever Matt Ward struck out UK pinch hitter Jon Love to end the game.
Ryan Adams (3-1) pitched brilliantly over eight innings, giving up only three hits and not allowing an earned run to pick up his third win of the season. Ward earned the save, his second of the season.
Scott Wade (0-2) absorbed the loss for the Wildcats. Wade went five full innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs. Cory Hahn did not allow a baserunner in three innings of relief for UK.
In UK’s second game of the day against the University of Washington, the Cats fell behind early once again. After a scoreless first inning, UW got on the board in the third. With two out, Duggan Moran walked and came around to score on Jefferson Thiel’s triple. Moran’s run was the first that UK starter Joseph Blanton had allowed in nine innings of work this season.
UW (2-0) added two runs in the third and knocked Blanton from the contest.
Trailing 3-0, UK finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth. Hahn tripled to lead off the inning and scored a single by fellow freshman Spencer Graeter. With Graeter at third, Beau Moore grounded out, but picked up an RBI in the process, cutting the Huskies lead to 3-2.
After the Wildcat bullpen shut down UW in the ninth, the Cats were down to their last at-bat. Seth Morris singled to lead off the UK half of the inning and Gordon Tyler reached on an error, putting runners at first and second with nobody out. A wild pitch by Husky closer Scott Robertson advanced the UK runners to second and third and the Cats were one base hit away from completing the comeback. After Brad Pickrell struck out, Hahn was intentionally walked, loading the bases. However, Robertson got Graeter swinging and Moore to ground out to end the game and preserve a 3-2 victory for the Huskies.
Sean White notched his first victory of the season for UW. White went seven innings, allowing no runs while striking out three. Robertson picked up the save.
Blanton shouldered the loss for UK. Mark Michael pitched well in relief for the Cats, throwing five-and-two-thirds scoreless innings.
The Wildcats outhit UW 6-4, but left eight runners on base.
UK squares off against tournament the University of Illinois tomorrow, Sun. Feb. 25, at 10 a.m. MST in the tournament finale.
