Feb. 15, 2003
DeLand, Fla. –
Senior Russ Rutherford drilled a first-pitch fastball to the wall in left-center field to score Brad Pickrell from third base in the top of the 11th inning, as the Bat Cats went on to a 3-2 victory and clinch the Amtrak Invitational.
Freshman Rob Bland (1-1) came up big in only his second game as a Cat. The North Bay, Ontario, Canada, native came on in relief of Kalen Gibson in the bottom of the tenth and proceeded to strike out consecutive batters to get out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam. Bland went on to end the 11th inning by inducing Chris Barry into a fly out to left field and clinch the victory for the Cats.
Kentucky starter Seth Stanley was solid in his Bat Cat debut, striking out nine batters in six innings, while allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits. Stanley retired nine in a row at one point, recording five strikeouts. Gibson came on in relief of Stanley and threw three-and-one-third shutout innings, giving up only two hits and striking out four.
“I’m really proud of our freshmen relievers, Kalen Gibson and Rob Bland, they showed a lot of poise and courage. Both had great stuff tonight and threw strikes,” Head Coach Keith Madison said.
George Washington got on the board first in the bottom half of the first inning on double from Chris Barry and a RBI single by Anthony Raglani. The Bat Cats answered with two in the second, capitalizing on three Colonial errors. GW tied the contest at two in the fifth when Joe Michalski scored from third base on a wild pitch from Stanley.
By virtue of Maryland’s defeat of Stetson earlier in the day, the Bat Cats won the Amtrak Invitational, hosted by Stetson.
UK will next take the field on Friday, Feb. 21, when they travel to Charleston, S.C., to take part in the Charleston Crab House Challenge presented by Trademark Properties, hosted by the Citadel. The Bat Cats will face the host school at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21.
– UK –
