April 7, 2002
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Seth Morris’ grand slam in the third inning and Cory Hahn’s first career complete game highlighted the University of Kentucky baseball team’s 6-1 Southeastern Conference victory over Tennessee at Lindsey Nelson Stadium Sunday afternoon. The win prevented a weekend sweep by the Volunteers and ended a six-game losing streak to UT.
“I’m proud of the way our players came out and responded to the challenge today,” Coach Keith Madison said. “After dropping two games to errors and mistakes, our guys came out and competed extremely well and were aggressive at the plate. Cory Hahn pitched outstanding today and we needed it. This is an important win for our ball club. We’ll go back to Lexington on a positive note and get ready for Marshall.”
The Wildcats (13-17, 3-9 SEC) started the scoring in the third when Jesse Barber singled to left and was brought home by a RBI single by Brad Pickrell. Russ Rutherford, who was awarded first on a bit-by-pitch, crossed home on a single to left by Caleb Stewart and a after Spencer Graeter was plunked, the Cats loaded the bases for Seth Morris. The junior slugger answered the call by cracking his first grand slam of the season over the right-center wall to increase UK’s lead to 6-0 over the Volunteers (17-18, 4-8 SEC). The four-RBI blast was the second homer of the weekend for Morris and his team-leading tenth of the season.
UT Coach Rod Delmonico went to his bullpen after Morris’ homer and elected to go with Jeffery Terrell after 2.2 innings. The Cats loaded the bases on the junior left-hander in the fourth when Rutherford doubled to left, Pickrell singled and Graeter walked. Terrell worked himself out of the jam when he forced Robert Newton ground into a double play to end the UK threat.
Kentucky continued to put runners on the bases in the fifth when Morris walked and Gordon Tyler laced his seventh double to left to put runners on first and third with no outs. Terrell responded with strikeouts to Spencer Preston and Jesse Barber and quelled the UK rally by getting Rutherford to ground out to second.
UK starter Cory Hahn kept the Volunteer hitters in check for five innings until Walter Sevilla’s RBI double down the left field line scored Nick Crowe who reached on a fielder’s choice for UT’s lone run. For the day, the sophomore right-hander surrendered one run on seven hits and struck out six with one walk.
In a game that saw Delmonico ejected in the eighth after arguing a strikeout swinging call, the Wildcats ended their six-game conference losing streak and picked up their first Sunday SEC win of the season.
The Cats will next play host to Marshall in a non-conference game on Tuesday, April 9 with a 4 p.m. ET staring time at Cliff Hagan Stadium before No. 5 Alabama visits the Bluegrass for a three-game SEC series next weekend.
Kentucky006000000 - 6 10 1Tennessee000001000 - 1 7 1Win: Hahn (3-4)Loss: Sadlowe (1-4)Time: 2:49Attendance: 1,504
– UK –
