March 15, 2002
AUBURN, Ala. – Junior right-hander Joseph Blanton pitched his second complete game in a row and Coach Keith Madison earned his 250th Southeastern Conference win as the University of Kentucky baseball team won its league opener, 3-1, over No. 24 Auburn at Plainsman Park Friday night.
“I thought Joseph Blanton competed extremely well tonight,” Coach Keith Madison said. “His curve ball was not as sharp as it was in his last outing, but he had great control and command of his fastball.”
Blanton (3-1), recently named this week’s SEC Pitcher of the Week, scattered four hits in eight innings and fanned nine before the Tigers (15-5) rallied in the ninth. Designated hitter Bobby Huddleston led off the ninth with a double down the right field line and left fielder Mike Mueller followed up with a single to right. Scott Schade’s sacrifice fly to right scored Huddleston for Auburn’s lone run. Blanton fought himself out of the jam, getting Matt Grooms to pop up to short and finished the game by forcing Sean Gamble to fly to left, earning his third win of the season and sending the Wildcats (10-8) to 1-0 in SEC play.
The Wildcats posted three runs on AU starter Levale Speigner, scoring their first run in the fourth when Gordon Tyler smacked an RBI single to left, bringing home Russ Rutherford who reached base when he was plunked by Speigner. UK put up another run in the run in the fifth when Jesse Barber sacrifice flied to center, scoring Spencer Preston who ripped his third double of the season. The Cats added an insurance run in the sixth as Caleb Stewart came home on a Seth Morris single and a throwing error by AU third baseman Josh Todd.
“It’s always great to get off to a good start in the conference, especially on the road against a very good Auburn team,” Coach Keith Madison said. “This win is a confidence builder and hopefully it will set the tone for the rest of the weekend.”
UK and AU will take the mound in game two of the three-game series on Saturday, March 16 at 3 p.m. CT. Freshman left hander Craig Snipp (1-0, 3.63 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Wildcats.
Kentucky 000 111 000 - 3 7 1Auburn 000 000 001 - 1 7 2Win: Blanton (3-1)Loss: Speigner (4-2)Time: 2:22Attendance: 3233
– UK –
