May 7, 2003
Lexington, Ky. –
Mike Breyman launched two home runs as the Cats upended intrastate rival Louisville, 9-5, at Applebee’s Park Wednesday evening. With the victory, the Cats (20-28) evened their home-and-home series with the Cards at one a piece, with UL (29-18) taking the first game, 7-5, at Louisville Slugger Field.
Breyman nailed his first blast over the wall in left center in the first inning. The two-run shot brought in Jake Kungl, who was hit by Cardinal pitcher Zach Jackson to reach first base. Gordon Tyler added to the Kentucky tally, driving in Caleb Stewart to put the Cats up 3-1 through one inning.
UK matched its three-run offensive output of the first inning with three more in the second. Consecutive errors from the Cards scored Kungl for the second time, and back-to-back singles from Caleb Brock and Brad Pickrell brought Breyman and Stewart home for a commanding 6-1 Cat lead.
Breyman and Pickrell added to the scoreboard with solo home runs in the fourth over deep center field. Kungl rounded out the scoring for the Cats on Kentucky’s 13th hit of the night, a RBI single from Stewart in the eighth.
“I was glad to see us hit the ball well,” said Head Coach Keith Madison. “But more importantly, we played great defense tonight. I also was very proud of the way our pitching staff threw in the game.”
Louisville took an early 1-0 lead in the first frame when Josh Bolen drove a ball that left the park in left center field. The Cards added one more in the sixth, and made a small comeback in the ninth as J.T. LaFountain drilled the fourth home run of the night between the two teams out of the park with a three-run homer to leave the final score at 9-5.
Five Cats tallied at least two hits, as Spencer Graeter led the way with a 3-for-4 performance. Matt Scott (1-1) earned the win for Kentucky in 3.1 innings of work, giving up just one earned run, three hits and fanning one Cardinal.
The Cats return to Southeastern Conference action this weekend with a three-game series against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Saturday’s afternoon match-up will feature a tribute to Keith Madison, with the first 150 fans receiving an autographed baseball signed by the long-time Kentucky skipper.
–UK–
