April 8, 2003
Lexington, Ky. –
Joe Naill scored two runs and added a game-tying triple in the seventh for Kentucky, as the Wildcats beat the Raiders of Wright State, 4-2, Tuesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The victory is the second in a row for UK, (13-18, 1-10 SEC) with the Cats having notched an 8-2 win Saturday against No. 5 Mississippi State in Starkville.
Wright State (8-18, 0-4 Horizon League) got on the board first in the third inning when Matt Barhorst nailed a stand-up double for the Raiders’ first hit. A Ty Brown bunt advanced Barhorst, and Chris Tuttle followed with a groundout that scored Barhorst and put Wright State ahead, 1-0. Justin Wilson then reached on the Raiders’ third hit of the inning to score Brown and put the Raiders up 2-0.
The score remained in favor of the Raiders until the sixth. Naill and Casey Gilvin led off the inning with back-to-back walks, and Brad Pickrell beat the throw from the Raiders’ shortstop to load the bases with no outs. Mike Breyman stepped to the plate and delivered with an infield hit to score Naill for Kentucky’s first run of the evening.
Kentucky struck again in the seventh behind the bat of Naill. Russ Rutherford led off the inning with a base hit, and Caleb Brock followed with a fielder’s choice, forcing Rutherford out at second. But Naill answered with one out, busting his first triple of the season to right center, which scored Brock and tied the game at 2-2. Gilvin’s shot to right dropped in front of right fielder Adam Morton to drive in Naill for the go-ahead run and put the Cats on top 3-2.
Seth Stanley went eight strong innings for the Cats, giving up six hits, two unearned runs and striking out six. Kalen Gibson got his second save of the year after recording the last three outs for UK.
Kentucky added an insurance run in the eighth, as Breyman doubled and pinch runner J.B. Schmidt crossed the plate on a double from Jake Kungl. Breyman, along with Gilvin, finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, with each also driving in a run on the evening.
The Cats are back in action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 9, hosting the Cincinnati Bearcats at 6 p.m. UK and UC met last Wednesday, with the Cats winning, 10-9. Tomorrow’s match-up also commemorates Big Brother’s Big Sisters of the Bluegrass and the Greek community at UK. The sorority/fraternity with the most members present at the game will win a free DVD player for their chapter.
– UK –
