Millington, (Tenn.) ? Kentucky?s pitching tandem of Kalen Gibson and Matt Scott combined to hold Memphis to one run, scattering 11 hits, as the Wildcats defeated the Tigers, 2-1, in 12 innings on Sunday. The win gave Kentucky the championship of the 16th Service Academy Tournament and moved the Wildcats to 7-2 on the season.
Gibson, the Kentucky starter, threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out three. Scott came on to work the final 6 2/3 innings in relief, shutting out the Tigers on five hits and striking out four.
?I just can?t say enough about Kalen Gibson and Matt Scott tonight,? UK head coach John Cohen said. ?Matt came in and pitched with great confidence. Kalen had great command and kept us in the game. Both of those guys are great competitors and we?re really pleased with the great effort they gave us in this game.?
Spencer Graeter provided the winning hit in the top of the 12th for the Wildcats as he doubled down the left field line to score J.B. Schmidt, who had walked, all the way from first base and put UK on top.
Memphis opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with three consecutive two-out singles, the last coming from Ryan Martin to score Josh Payne and give the Tigers an early 1-0 advantage.
UK answered right back in the top of the second as Jesse Barber and Aaron Edwards drew consecutive walks with one out. After a strikeout, Michael Bertram delivered a single through the right side of the infield to score Barber from second base and tie the game at 1-1.
Memphis posed a serious threat in the sixth inning, loading the bases with just one out, but Scott induced a 6-4-3 ground ball double play to escape unscathed.
Kentucky had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 10th inning when J.B. Schmidt walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch with no outs. However, the Cats were unable to advance Schmidt and stranded him at second base.
The two teams exchanged several brilliant defensive plays in the game. On two separate occasions Memphis caught UK base runners at third base attempting to stretch doubles into triples, with relay throws from right field. After Memphis? Jordan Hunt had singled to lead off the seventh inning, Payne laced a line drive into the gap in right center, but UK right fielder Caleb Stewart was able to flag it down, preserving the tie game. When John Shelby launched a long fly ball into center in the top of the ninth, Payne made a diving catch running toward the wall in centerfield.
Kentucky returns to action this week as it plays host to East Tennessee State on Wednesday afternoon, before a weekend series with Wright State. First pitch on Wed. is set for 3 p.m. (ET) from Cliff Hagan Stadium.
— UK —
