March 30, 2003
Lexington, Ky. –
The Arkansas Razorbacks finished a sweep of the Kentucky baseball team (10-17, 0-9 SEC), dealing the Bat Cats a heartbreaking, 10-9, loss Sunday afternoon, March 30th, at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Down 9-7 in the ninth, UA (22-5, 5-4 SEC) used back-to-back homeruns from Brady Toops and Ryan Fox to score three runs for the victory, two of five Razorback blasts in the game.
On top 3-1, the Razorbacks put together back-to-back lead off homeruns from Nick Pitts and Fox in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. But the Cats answered the Arkansas three-run third by bringing home three of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Spencer Graeter, who scored in the fourth, once again started the Wildcat rally, doubling down the third baseline. Mike Breyman followed with a single, and back-to-back RBI singles from Caleb Stewart and Jake Kungl pulled the Cats to within two at 5-3. Russ Rutherford then reached on a fielder’s choice, and intentionally got hung up between first and second on a delayed steal, allowing Stewart to cross the plate from third and cut the lead to one.
UA extended its advantage to 6-4 in the top of the seventh when Wishy started the inning with the third consecutive lead off homerun, a solo shot to right center. But Brad Pickrell countered for UK in the bottom half of the inning, answering the shot with a two run blast of his own, bringing in Joe Naill, who had singled earlier in the inning, to even the score.
Arkansas didn’t hesitate going on top again, tacking on another run as Brett Hagedorn came home on a wild pitch from UK’s Aaron Tennyson, who came in during the inning in relief, to bring the score to 7-6. Kentucky was quick to answer yet again, touching the plate three times in the bottom of the eighth. Breyman and Jake Kungl both scored on sacrifice bunts, while Stewart came home on a wild pitch from UA pitcher Jay Sawatski to go up two, 9-7, heading into the last inning of play.
After Toops and Fox’s homeruns put the Razorbacks back on top, 10-9, in the ninth, the Cats failed to get anything going in the bottom of the inning, flying out to right twice and striking out, failing to get their first win in conference play.
Graeter and Naill chalked up two hits apiece for the Cats. UK went deep into its bullpen, using five pitchers in relief of starter Scott Wade. Kalen Gibson (2-2), who gave up the homerun to Fox in the ninth, took the loss for the Cats.
Fox finished with two of UA’s homeruns, going 2-for-5 at the plate. Wishy and Pitts both had three hits in the game, each delivering a solo homer for the Razorbacks. Sawatski (3-1) earned the win on the mound for the visitors in two innings of work.
The Bat Cats get back into action this Wednesday, April 2, at 6 p.m., facing non-conference opponent Cincinnati, before heading back into SEC play this weekend with a three-game series in Starkville, Miss., against the Bulldogs of Mississippi State.
–UK–
