Box Score
The University of Kentucky baseball team was dealt its second straight loss by the Tennessee Volunteers, this time by a 10-5 margin, on Saturday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
As was the case last night, UK (11-13, 2-6 SEC) had plenty of opportunities to win the game, but could not deliver a clutch hit in crunch time.
Behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Wyatt Allen who struck out a career-high 13 batters, UT (23-3, 7-1 SEC) remained atop the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division standings.
The game was scoreless until the third inning when the Vols were able to push three runs across the plate, aided by a Wildcat error that led to two unearned runs.
UT added two runs in the fifth inning on Chris Burkes team-leading eighth home run of the season.
UK managed to get on the board in the sixth. With one runner aboard, Seth Morris smacked his team-leading sixth home run of the season over the right-center field wall, cutting UTs lead to 5-2.
The Vols struck back with two runs in the eighth, taking advantage of another Wildcat miscue and pushing the lead back to five.
Once again, the Cats fought back, this time with three runs in the bottom of the eighth.Beau Moore homered, his fourth of the season, to leadoff the inning. Gordon Tylers sacrifice fly scored Vince Harrison and Spencer Prestons walk with the bases loaded scored Caleb Brock, in the process cutting UTs lead to 7-5 with two outs and the bases loaded. However, that would prove to be all the runs UK could muster as Spencer Graeter lined out to shortstop, ending the Wildcats chances.
The Vols would tack on three runs in the ninth to make the final 10-5.
Allen (5-1) picked up the win for UT. The right-hander went 7 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits and giving up five earned runs.
Rob Corrado was saddled with his second loss of the season against four win. Corrado went 7 full innings, giving up six runs, only four of which were earned, while striking out five.
Brock was the only Wildcat player to collect more than one hit, including his first three-bagger of the season.
Burke led the Vols offensively, going 3-for-4 and driving in two runs. Jeff Christensen drove in three runners for UT.
The Cats will look to avoid the sweep as the two teams play the series finale tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. Mark Michael is the scheduled starter for UK. Patrick Hicklen will take the mound for the Vols.
