BATON ROUGE (Apr. 1, 2001) — The University of Kentucky baseball team exploded for seven runs over the final two innings en route to upsetting the seventh-ranked LSU Tigers 9-5 on Sunday, April 1, at Alex Box Stadium in the finale of a three-game Southeastern Conference series.
With the win, the Wildcats (13-17, 3-9 SEC) avoided being swept for the third consecutive weekend, and in the process, recorded their first win over a ranked opponent since a 6-4 triumph over top-ranked South Carolina in the 2000 Southeastern Conference Tournament.
The win marked UKs third in 21 games at Alex Box Stadium. LSU fell to 21-8-1, 8-4 in the SEC.
The Cats broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the eighth inning. Caleb Brock led off the inning with an infield hit, but was thrown out atsecond on a failed hit-and-run attempt.
Jon Love followed with a one-out single, and pinch runner Taylor McInnis advanced to second on a failed LSU pickoff attempt.
After Gordon Tyler singled to center field and pinch hitter Morgan Embry walked, Seth Morris stepped to the plate with the basesloaded and a chance to put the Cats ahead. Morris came through with an RBI single that plated McInnis, but Tyler was gunned downat the plate attempting to score from second.
With the Cats clinging to a one run lead, Beau Moore continued the clutch UK hitting with a line drive single to center field.Attempting to score from second off the Moore single, pinch runner Brent Stephens slid into home plate, which was being blocked byTiger catcher Matt Heath. After the throw from center field sailed over Heaths head, Heath shoved Stephens to the ground, andboth dugouts emptied. After the umpires had calmed both clubs, LSU recorded the final out of the inning.
UK would blow the game open with five runs in the ninth inning. With one out and runners at the corners, Heaths pickoff attemptsailed into left field, scoring Vince Harrison. Tyler followed with a triple and Cory Hahns third home run of the season gave the Catssome breathing room with a 9-2 lead.
LSU would counter with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, two coming on second baseman Mike Fontenots fourthround-tripper of the season to make the final score 9-5.
UK starter, Joseph Blanton, returning from a four-game suspension, pitched brilliantly, scattering nine hits over eight innings whilestriking out five batters. With the win, Blanton improved to 2-3 on the season.
Waylin Guidry (0-2) was saddled with the loss for the Tigers. Guidry pitched 2/3 of an inning, giving up three hits and twobases-on-balls. LSU starter Tim Nuget, making his first SEC start, pitched well but did not figure in the decision.
Tyler led the Cats attack with three hits and two RBI. Moore and Hahn also figured heavily in the UK production with two RBIapiece.
UK returns to action on Wednesday when the Cats host Tennessee Tech. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Score by innings R H E-------------------------------------------------Kentucky 001 000 125 9 13 1LSU 001 001 003 5 10 4------------------------------------------------- Win - Blanton (2-3).Loss - Guidry (0-2)E - Graeter, Heath 2, Raymer, Guidry.DP - Kentucky 2, LSU 1.LOB - Kentucky 11, LSU 7. 2B - Graeter, Morris, Linden, Heath.3B - Tyler. HR Hahn, Fontenot. HBP - Preston. SH - Brock, Pickrell, Raymer. SF - Graeter. SB - McBride. CS - Brock.
