May 4, 2002
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Call it ironic. Call it fate. Call it karma. Hours before Victor Espinoza rode No. 5 War Emblem to an unexpected wire-to-wire victory in the 128th running of the Kentucky Derby, UK head coach Keith Madison expounded to his players that the key number of the day was five.
The 24-year skipper delineated the following goals to his Wildcats if they were to break their season-high 12-game losing skid Saturday night at Arkansas:
1. Collect five two strike hits
2. Score in five innings
3. Put the leadoff man on in five innings
4. Make five great defensive plays
5. Hit five doubles
On Derby day, the Kentucky Wildcat baseball team ended its 12-game losing skid to defeat Arkansas, 5-2, in front of a season-high 3,752 at UA’s Baum Stadium Saturday night.
“I made those goals out in the morning, way before the Kentucky Derby,” Madison said. “Joseph Blanton showed the form tonight he had earlier in the season. Our guys competed well tonight and it feels extremely good to get a win and put those tough losses behind us.”
The Wildcats got to UA starter Jonathan Richardson early when Spencer Graeter ripped a leadoff double to the gap in right-center and Caleb Stewart reached on a throwing error by shortstop Scott Hode. After a Robert Newton walk, home plate umpire Fred Cannon signaled a balk on Richardson that forced Graeter home to give UK an early 1-0 edge.
UK galloped in another run in the second when Russ Rutherford beat Jeff Fletcher’s throw from third on a bunt single and scored on a RBI single to right by Graeter. Brad Pickrell, who reached on a double to center, crossed home on a deep sacrifice fly to right by Stewart to build the Cats’ lead to 3-0.
Kentucky continued to fluster Richardson as Robert Newton and Seth Morris combined for back-to-back singles and Spencer Preston took first when a high-inside fastball struck the senior catcher’s left shoulder. With the bases juiced, UA coach Norm DeBriyn elected for Josh Merryman out of the bullpen. The junior righty answered the challenge by getting Rutherford to fly out to center and setting down Brad Pickrell on called strikes.
Five was ironically the number of the day for UK as Preston blasted a Merryman fastball over the left field wall, bringing in Morris who singled before him that gave UK a 5-0 cushion in the fifth inning. UK starter Joseph Blanton retired the first 14 Arkansas batters before Nick Pitts launched a towering solo home run over the head of Mike Ferris in right to put the Razorbacks on the board.
Joseph Blanton went the distance for the third time this season and won his first game after losing his previous five. The junior moved into a tie for sixth place with Ben Shaffar (1999) on UK’s single-season strikeout list with 108.
The series is on the line tomorrow when the Wildcats and Razorbacks meet at noon ET. Junior right-hander Rob Corrado will take the hill for UK, while UA will challenge with senior righty Gary Hogan Jr.
UK120 020 000 - 5 13 0UA000 010 001 - 2 4 2Win: Blanton (4-6)Loss: Richmond (2-4)Save: NoneTime: 2:37Attendance: 3752
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