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Lexington, (Ky.) ? Caleb Stewart went 2-for-3, including his first home run of the young season, with two walks, two runs scored and two RBI to lead Kentucky past Georgetown College, 8-4, at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Wednesday. The Wildcats used seven pitchers on the afternoon, with Seth Stanely (1-0) picking up the win.
?This early in the season, we?re still a little unsure of ourselves on the field,? Kentucky coach John Cohen said. ?We did some good things today and we?re starting to come around a little bit. We just need to continue to work every day and play with the passion necessary for us to improve.?
Georgetown got on the scoreboard first, pushing a run across in the top of the first inning when Soren Wolf singled and later scored on the back end of a double steal. Kentucky answered in its half of the first as Stewart singled with two outs to score Billy Grace and tie the game at 1-1. The Wildcats got two more in the third when Spencer Graeter scored on an error and Grace scored on a Jake Kungl double, putting UK on top, 3-1.
Georgetown put another run up in the fifth when Scott Greiwe doubled to left field with two outs and scored on Wolf?s single. Kentucky had the answer again, though, as Stewart walked, and later scored on another Tiger error. Georgetown cut the UK lead to 5-4 in the top of the seventh as Michael Beattie, Bryan Powell and Greiwe had consecutive singles with one out. Wolf collected his third single of the game, plating Beattie and Powell.
Stewart struck again leading off the bottom half of the seventh inning, launching a long home run over the wall in left center. Michael Bertram then walked and eventually scored on a John Shelby single. The Wildcats tacked on one more run in the eighth, Casey Gilvin doubling and scoring on a Graeter single, to round out the scoring.
Georgetown, which competes in the NAIA, gave the Wildcats a very competitive game throughout, but was hurt by four errors. The two teams each had 10 hits in the game.
?Georgetown is not your run-of-the-mill NAIA team,? Cohen said. ?For us to have the opportunity to add them to our schedule is nothing but beneficial for our team because they have a quality club.?
Aaron Tennyson started for UK on the mound, throwing just the first inning and allowing one run on two hits. Stanley came on to work three scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit and striking out six batters. Shane Boyd threw the fifth and was followed by Andy Myette, who pitched a perfect sixth, Mark Galvin, Matt Scott and Kalen Gibson.
?I was very pleased with what we got out of our pitching staff today,? Cohen said. ?We needed to get some guys in the game to throw, and they all gave us a great effort out there.?
Grace joined Stewart with two hits on the afternoon. Graeter and Shelby both had two runs batted in for the Cats.
Wolf finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Tigers. Greiwe collected two hits for Georgetown. Adam Burks (0-1) started for Georgetown and was saddled with the loss.
UK will next play on Friday as the Wildcats welcome Eastern Michigan to Lexington for the first of a three-game series. First pitch is slated for 3:05 p.m. (ET) from Cliff Hagan Stadium.
— UK ?
