April 14, 2002
Caleb Stewart cracked a pinch-hit two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, but it was not enough to lift the University of Kentucky baseball team over No. 3 Alabama as it fell, 15-4, Sunday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Crimson Tide swept the series for the second straight year over the Wildcats, who moved to 14-20 on the year and 3-12 in the Southeastern Conference, while Alabama improved to 32-5 and 12-3 in conference play.
UK was held scoreless until the sixth inning, when junior Gordon Tyler’s double to left field scored freshman Jesse Barber and junior Seth Morris. The Cats would not reach home again until the eighth, when Stewart took Alabama freshman Brent Carter’s fastball over the wall in left-center for his fourth home run of the year, a two run shot that also brought home Spencer Graeter. It was the sophomore’s first home run since a 5-4 UK win at Birmingham-Southern in the second game of the season on Feb. 16.
For Alabama, senior right-handed pitcher Shane Sanders (5-1) threw six complete innings on the day, allowing ten hits and two earned runs on the mound while picking up the win. Three Tide players managed at least three hits on the day, topped by a 4-for-5 performance by junior Grant Redding. Also for UA, senior Scott McClanahan tallied his 100th RBI of his career while driving in two runs on the day.
For UK, sophomore Cory Hahn (3-5) pitched three scoreless innings before the Tide broke out for five runs in the fourth. After adding two more in the fifth, senior lefty Bryan Felkel took over in the sixth, allowing five hits and four earned runs in just 1.1. innings of work. Freshman Jeff Archer finished out the game on the mound for the Wildcats.
Behind the plate, UK managed to rack up 12 hits on the afternoon. But after scoring 23 runs in their last SEC series with Tennessee, the Cats scored only 14 in three games with the Tide and were outscored 36-14 on the weekend. Graeter, Tyler, and freshman Mike Ferris all contributed with multiple hits in the contest. The UK pitchers held Alabama homerless this afternoon, ending a 13-game home run streak for the Tide.
The game lasted only eight innings due to SEC time regulations as no inning is allowed to begin after 4:45 p.m. local time on travel days. First pitch was set to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET, but did not get underway until 2:22 p.m. ET due to a rain delay.
The Cats take a break this week from conference play and host back-to-back games before heading to Georgia next weekend. The Bisons from Lipscomb travel to the Bluegrass Tuesday, before Western Kentucky visits Lexington Wednesday night. Both games are set for 6 p.m. ET.
Alabama 000 523 32 - 15 20 0Kentucky 000 002 02 - 4 12 2Win: Sanders (5-1)Loss: Hahn (3-5)Time: 2:22Attendance: 212
– UK –
