Box Score (PDF)
The Vanderbilt Commodores scored four runs in over the last three innings to pull out a 10-8 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday afternoon at CliffHagan Stadium on the campus of the University of Kentucky. With the win, the Commodores evened the Southeastern Conference series at one game apieceheading into tomorrow afternoons series finale.
UK (16-22, 4-13 SEC) pounded out 10 hits, but could not overcome the combination of seven walks and three untimely errors.
Leading 1-0 after the first inning, VU (18-20, 6-11 SEC) tacked on two additional runs in the second on an RBI single from David Wallace and a sacrifice buntfrom Kevin Geshke.
UK plated a single run in the second when Beau Moores bunt single scored Morgan Embry, and the Cats added an unearned run in the third, trimming theCommodores lead to 3-2.
VU struck back with two runs in the fourth, but the Cats exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fourth, the big blow coming on Gordon Tylers bases clearingdouble to the left-center field gap that brought home three runs.
Both teams would add a run in the sixth, leaving the scored 7-6 in UKs favor.
However, the Dores would tie the score in the seventh on Ulises Cabrera-Valenzuelas first home run of the season, and take the lead for good with a run in theeighth on a sac fly from David Wallace.
Three UK errors in the ninth would lead to two additional Commodore runs, extending VUs lead to 10-7 going into the last half-inning.
Brad Pickrell, who extended his season-long hit streak to 11 games earlier in the afternoon, homered to lead off the ninth. The Cats would put runners on first andsecond with two outs, would see the comeback attempt fall short when Taylor McInnis lined out to right field.
Tylers three RBI led the Cats. Moore collected three hits and two RBI. Cory Hahn, who pitched three innings in relief of starter Mark Michael, took the loss. Hahnfell to 2-3.
The rubber game of the series gets underway at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Joseph Blanton is scheduled to be the starter for UK.
