Box Score
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Kentucky plated three runs in theninth inning, but fell one run short of ending the University of Florida’s12-game winning streak, falling 10-9 to the Gators on Saturday afternoon atMcKethan Stadium in Gainesville.
For the second straight game, the Cats dug themselves into a large deficitthat they were unable to crawl out of. Despite ninth inning home runs offthe bat of Gordon Tyler and Seth Morris, UK dropped to 14-19 overall, 3-11in the Southeastern Conference.
UF (24-13, 8-6 SEC) took advantage of early Wildcats miscues, turning theminto an early 5-0 lead. Back-to-back singles by Jason Dill and PeterNystrom plated two Gator runs in the first. UF added three runs in thesecond to go up by a five-run margin.
UK got on the board in the third when Vince Harrison scored on a wild pitchuncorked by Gator starter Jimmy Ramshaw.
The Cats cut the lead to 5-3 in the fifth when Spencer Graeter’s singledown the right field line scored Tyler and Harrison.
The Gator answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, then tacked-onthree runs in the sixth to take a seemingly insurmountable 10-3 lead.
However, the Cats were determined to make a game of it, scoring one run inthe seventh on a sacrifice fly by Caleb Brock/
The UK bats came alive with two additional runs in the eighth. Morgan Embryled off the inning with a solo home run, his second of the season. Morrisfollowed with a double down the left field line and later scored on a wildpitch.
Down to their last at-bat, the Comeback Cats responded. Tyler led off theninth with a solo shot, his third of the season, cutting UF’s lead to 10-7.With two out, Embry reached on an error by the Gator left fielder, bring upMorris. Down to his last strike, Morris, UK’s home run leader, lined a JayBelflower slider over the left field wall, making it a one-run game. Thatwould be as closer as the Cats would get as Belflower would regroup,coaxing UK pinch-hitter Jeff Tolotti into a groundout, ending the game.
Gator reliever Eddie Rojas picked up the win, his third of the season.Scott Wade, the conference’s best 2-6 pitcher, suffered the loss.
UK will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon when the two teamssquare off in the series finale at 1:30 p.m.
