Feb. 23, 2003
Charleston, S.C. –
The Kentucky Wildcats baseball team (3-3, 0-0 SEC) scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning, including home runs from Spencer Graeter and Gordy Tyler, but couldn’t overcome the No. 15 Richmond Spiders (2-0, 0-0 CAC) who dropped the Bat Cats, 11-10.
Sloppy defense cost the Bat Cats early, as Richmond scored twice in the first inning on a passed ball and a throwing error. The Spiders increased their lead to 4-0 when Bryan Pritz doubled to left field scoring Chris Dolan and Michael Galligan. They scored again in the fourth and fifth innings, increasing the margin to 6-0. Bryan Pritz led the onslaught for the Spiders, going 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, five RBI and two runs scored.
The Bat Cats got the sticks rolling in the top half of the seventh inning when Spencer Graeter doubled to right center, Mike Breyman singled and Gordy Tyler singled to score Graeter from third. Caleb Stewart then brought Breyman in with a fielder’s choice. After a Russ Rutherford walk, Jake Kungl and Caleb Brock delivered consecutive run-scoring singles to make the score 7-4. Joe Naill then drilled a line drive back up the middle and into center field to score Kungl and Brock, cutting the deficit to 7-6.
Richmond answered in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run off the bat of Jim Fasano. The Spiders scored three more times in the eighth, on back-to-back homers from Pritz and Ben Zeskind.
Kentucky starter Seth Stanley (0-1) was saddled with the loss, throwing four innings and allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits, while striking out five. Caleb Brock went 4-for-4 in the loss, with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Graeter and Tyler each had two hits and scored two runs, also. Richmond starter Mike McGirr (1-0) picked up his win of the season.
Kentucky returns to action on Friday, Feb. 28th, when it travels to Birmingham, Ala., to take part in a tournament hosted by the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The Cats will face Marshall University on Friday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m.
– UK –
