Box Score

Utilizing seven pitchers, the University of Kentucky baseball team defeated intra-state rival Western Kentucky, 9-5, onWednesday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium. With the win, the Wildcats avenged an earlier season loss to the Hilltoppers andimproved to 8-0 at home against non-conference opponents.

Vince Harrison and Beau Moore each drove in three runs to lead the Wildcat offensive attack. Spencer Graeter, Gordon Tyler,Spencer Preston and Harrison each recorded multiple hits as UK pounded out 12 base knocks against the Hilltopper pitching. Withhis 2-for-3 afternoon, Graeter extended his hitting streak to 12 games, the longest any Cat has enjoyed this season.

UK (18-22) got on the board with three runs in the second inning. With one out, Seth Morris walked. Preston followed with a singleup the middle, moving Morris to third. After Austin Madison was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, a sacrifice bunt by Moore pushedthe first UK run across the plate. Graeter then came through with a clutch two-out single, plating two more Wildcats.

The Wildcats offense came calling again in the sixth inning, putting the game away with five runs. After Morris reached on an error tolead off the inning, Preston doubled to right-center. With one out, Moore singled to left field, driving home Morris and Preston.Graeter followed with a single to center field, leaving runners at first and second and bringing up Harrison. Harrison connected withhis eighth home run of the season, this one sailing over the left-center field wall, putting UK up 8-0.

UK would tack on a run in the seventh, courtesy of Morris’ team-leading 11th home run of the season. WKU (25-16) would finallyget on the board with five runs, four of which were unearned, in the ninth.

Cory Hahn evened his record at 3-3 with the victory. Rob Corrado, Joel Gooch, Mark Galvin, Jon Hooker, Morris and JosephBlanton each pitched at least one inning in relief for the Cats.

John Bartach suffered the loss for the Hilltoppers. Bartach fell to 5-2 in the 2001 campaign. Matt Fox led WKU with three hits. UK will travel to Starkville, Miss., for a crucial Southeastern Conference series with the Mississippi State Bulldogs this weekend,April 20-22. Game time on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST.

 -----------------------------------------------Western Kentucky        000 000 005 -  5   7  2Kentucky                030 005 10X -  9  12  1-----------------------------------------------Win  Hahn (3-3) Loss  Bartach  (5-2)