April 3, 2002
Freshman Mike Ferris and sophomore Cory Hahn launched back-to-back home runs to highlight a four-run second inning that propelled the University of Kentucky baseball team to a 13-4 non-conference win over visiting Eastern Kentucky Wednesday afternoon. The Wildcats snapped a four-game losing skid to improve to 12-15 (2-7 Southeastern Conference) while Eastern Kentucky dropped to 6-18 (3-3 Ohio Valley Conference) on the season.
“I was really pleased with the way our guys showed aggressiveness at the plate and the way we hit the ball today,” Coach Keith Madison said. “Our club needed a win like this to get some positive momentum going. We travel to Tennessee this weekend and that’s always a big series. That rivalry is there in every sport. This was a very important win for our ball club. We got a much-needed win and got ourselves back on track heading into conference play this weekend.”
After sitting the Wildcats down in order in the first, EKU starter Scott Santa (1-2) was roughed up in the second when UK crossed the plate four times on the senior right-hander. Robert Newton began the Cats’ rally with a leadaoff walk and Seth Morris followed up with a single to right. Ferris stepped up to the plate and brought Newton and Morris home when he blasted a Santa fastball over the wall in right-center. Hahn, homerless in 38 plate appearances entering the game, cracked his first round-tripper of the season to give UK a commanding 4-0 edge.
Kentucky starter Rob Corrado lasted 2.2 innings and surrendered two runs on two hits with four strikeouts. The EKU runs came home on a two-run homer by Chris Clark who finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs in the losing cause. From there, pitching coach Greg Goff put his bullpen to work. Five relievers were used in the victory that improved UK’s series lead to 62-24-1 over EKU and Madison’s record to 27-12-1 over his Richmond neighbors.
Freshman Craig Snipp (2-1) took the ball from Corrado and pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball to earn his second win of the season. James Rodriquez and Jarrod Reynolds also pitched shutout innings.
The Wildcats continued their offensive barrage in the fourth when Spencer Graeter ripped a leadoff single to left and Brad Pickrell doubled the sophomore designated hitter home. Newton was awarded first on a hit-by-pitch and Morris laced a double down the left field line to increase the UK lead to 9-2.
For the day, five Wildcats posted two-hit performances and Graeter homered for the second time this season. The 15-hit outing was the highest of the year and the 13 runs scored by the Cats were the most since a 14-6 drubbing of Western Michigan on March 5 at Applebee’s Park.
Kentucky will next travel to Knoxville, Tenn. for a three-game SEC series with the Volunteers of Tennessee. Friday’s opening game will feature junior right-hander Joseph Blanton (3-3, 2.81 ERA) against sophomore lefty Ben Riley (2-1, 4.57) with a 7 p.m. ET start. The Cats and Vols will continue the series Saturday at 4 p.m. ET and Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
WLXO 96.1 FM with Drew Deener will broadcast all three games this weekend. Live in-game scoring can also be accessed from UKAthletics.com.
Eastern Kentucky 002 000 011 - 4 8 4Kentucky 042 320 200 - 13 15 2Win: Snipp (2-1)Loss: Santa (1-2)Time: 2:57Attendance: 208
– UK –
