March 1, 2002
Junior right-hander Joseph Blanton struck out 13 in eight complete innings but it was not enough as the University of Kentucky baseball team dropped its home opener to Miami (Ohio), 3-2, at Applebee’s Park in the Holiday Inn North Classic Friday.
Cory Hahn, who earned the win for the Wildcats (4-6) in their 3-1 victory over No. 17 Texas A&M on Monday, came in to relieve Blanton to start the ninth inning. The sophomore righty gave up a leadoff single to MU’s (1-0) right fielder Ry Edington and surrendered the game-winning home run to pinch hitter Michael Carlin two batters later.
“It hurts to lose like this again,” Coach Keith Madison said. “Joseph Blanton pitched outstanding today and it’s really unfortunate that we could not come through to get the win. We have to put this one behind us and just look toward tomorrow.”
Junior designated hitter Gordon Tyler smacked his second home run of the season off All-Mid-American Conference left-hander Chris Leonard to give the Cats an early 1-0 lead in the second. UK crossed the plate again in the eighth when junior center fielder Seth Morris reached base on an infield single and was brought home on a bases loaded sacrifice fly to left by junior third baseman Russ Rutherford.
The Cats threatened again in the ninth, placing runners at first and third with no outs. However, MU’s Billy Keininger went to work with an intimidating combination of power and off-speed pitches. The senior right-hander sat down Caleb Stewart and Morris on called strikes before forcing senior Spencer Preston to pop up to center field to end the game.
Keininger (1-0) earned the win for MU, while Hahn is credited with his third loss of the season (2-3). Blanton posted an impressive line, giving up one run on three hits with two walks in 30 batters faced.
The RedHawks and Wildcats will continue their three-game series on Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. and will finish Holiday Inn North Classic play on Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. Junior right-hander Scott Wade is scheduled to take the mound for UK on Saturday, while freshman lefty Craig Snipp is penciled in as Sunday’s hurler.
All games will be played at Applebee’s Park, home of the Lexington Legends, the 2001 South Atlantic League Champions.
Miami (Ohio) 000 000 102 - 3 5 2Kentucky 010 000 010 - 2 7 2Win: Kieninger (1-0)Loss: Hahn (2-3)Time: 2:39Attendance: 250
