Cats Finish in a Tie for Third
(Feb. 26, 2001) — The University of Kentucky baseball team defeated the University of Illinois, 6-2, in the finale of the Illini Desert Classic Sunday, February 25, in Tucson, Ariz. With the win, the Wildcats tied for third in the tournament with Brigham Young University with a 1-2 record. Both U of I and the University of Washington finished 2-1 in the tournament, but the Illini were determined to be winners by way of a head-to-head victory over UW.
Against Illinois, Wildcat starter Rob Corrado struggled with control in the first inning. Brady Ballard led off with a triple and scored on a passed ball, giving the Illini a 1-0 lead. After walking the next two batters, Corrado regained his composure and got out of the inning.
UK (3-7) evened the score in the bottom half of the first on right fielder Seth Morris first home run this season.
Corrado breezed through the second and third innings, but a base-on-balls issued to the Illinis Chad Frk set up U of Is second run.
UK’s bats came alive in the fifth. Caleb Brock singled to start the inning and advanced to third on a single by Cory Hahn. Spencer Graeter reachedbase on an error by the Illini’s first baseman, scoring Brock. Beau Moore added to the hit barrage with a double, scoring Graeter and giving the Cats a3-2 advantage, their first lead of the entire tournament.
Corrado was pulled from the game with two outs in the sixth and replaced by reliever Bryan Felkel. Felkel pitched well, sustaining the Cats one-runlead through the remainder of the sixth and seventh innings before giving way to UK closer Jon Hooker. Hooker pitched a scoreless top half of theeighth before the UK offense could provide insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning.
With two out in the eighth, Hahn singled home Gordon Tyler, giving the Cats a 4-2 advantage. Hahn stole second and Graeter walked, bringing upUK leadoff man Beau Moore and putting pressure on the Illini defense. Moore hit a rocket ground ball that went under the glove of the Illini secondbaseman that allowed Hahn to cross home plate. Vince Harrison followed with an RBI single that scored Graeter and gave the Cats a 6-2 lead that theywould not relinquish as Hooker closed the door on the Illini in the ninth.
Corrado (2-0) recorded six strikeouts in notching his second win of the season. Josh Gold was saddled with the loss for the Illini. Gold fell to 0-2on the campaign. UK relievers Felkel and Hooker combined to pitch 3-and-one-third scoreless innings for the Cats, allowing only two hits. Hookerpicked up his first save of the season.
The Wildcats posted 12 hits, their second highest output of the season, and were aided by five Illini errors. Brock and Moore led the way for theCats with three hits apiece. Moore drove home two of the six UK runs.
With the loss, Illinois dropped to 2-3 on the season.
The Wildcats will return to action Friday, March 2, when play their home opener against Kent State University. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
