April 29, 2003
Lexington, Ky. –
The Kentucky baseball team hit two home runs and rallied from a 7-2 deficit before falling to the Lipscomb Bisons, 9-7, Tuesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Cats (18-25) scored the last five runs of the game to cut into Lipscomb’s advantage after a six-run second inning secured the lead for the Bisons (16-28).
Neither team wasted any time getting on the board, as the Bisons and Cats each had runners cross the plate in the first. After Lipscomb took an early 1-0 lead, Caleb Stewart answered with his second home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left field wall to bring in Spencer Graeter and give the Cats a 2-1 advantage after the first frame.
The Bisons didn’t stay down long, as Ben Blumenthal added a solo home run of his own to lead off the second and tie the game at 2-2. With two outs and the bases loaded, Chris Parker was hit by UK hurler Mark Galvin and Lipscomb retook the lead at 3-2. With the bases still juiced, Todd Boucher delivered for the Bisons, blasting a grand slam and boosting Lipscomb to a 7-2 advantage after it crossed six runs in the second inning.
The Bisons added two more in the third before the Cats struck again. Caleb Brock walked to give the Cats a base runner, and Jake Kungl reached second on an error from the Bisons centerfielder that scored Brock, making it a 9-4 game.
UK put together a rally late in the game, scoring two more in the seventh and another in the eighth to cut the lead to two. Graeter reached base on a walk, and Mike Breyman and Stewart followed with consecutive singles to left center, bringing in Graeter. Breyman scored when Brock hit a line drive that was misplayed by the Lipscomb shortstop leading to another Cat run. UK added its final score in the eighth when Casey Gilvin pounded out an RBI single to left that scored Zack Archer, who pinch ran for Michael Bertram after Bertram doubled down the right field line, leaving the score at 9-7.
Graeter rounded the bases three times for the Cats in the losing effort, as Gilvin, Brock and Stewart contributed two hits apiece. Lipscomb’s Logan Good (3-5) took the win on the mound after allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out three Cats in six solid innings of work.
The Cats return to action tomorrow night, Wed., April 30, playing host to intrastate foe Eastern Kentucky University. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. EDT at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
–UK–
