Knoxville, (Tenn.) ? Kentucky miscues gave Tennessee two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Wildcats lost a heartbreaker to the Vols, 3-2, on Friday in Knoxville. After Josh Alley led off the UT half of the eighth with a single, Kyle Norrid was hit by a pitch with one out. An error on the UK defense on the next hitter loaded the bases and pinch hitter Brett Chappell singled in the tying run. Norrid scored the winning run on a balk by Kentucky reliever Matt Scott.
UK starter Kalen Gibson was spectacular on this evening, throwing seven innings and allowing just one earned run on five hits. Scott (4-2) was saddled with the loss. UT reliever Scot Drucker (2-1) picked up the win for the Vols.
?Our kids competed really well tonight,? UK head coach John Cohen said. ?It?s hard to lose a game in that fashion, but that?s the way it goes sometimes. I think we?ll bounce back and we?ll be ready to play tomorrow.?
Kentucky took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Spencer Graeter led off the frame with a double to the gap in left center and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Jesse Barber. Caleb Stewart then grounded into a fielder?s choice, scoring Graeter from third base with the game?s first run.
The lead was short lived as Tennessee?s Josh Alley blasted his fifth home run of the season in the bottom half of the fifth, a solo shot over the score board in right center to tie the game at 1-1.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with a Barber single, Stewart walk and an intentional walk to Casey Gilvin, chasing UT starter Derek Tharpe from the mound. Reliever Scot Drucker came on and immediately issued a free pass to pinch hitter Billy Grace to force in the go-ahead run.
UT threatened in the bottom of the seventh Nick Crowe singled to start the inning. After a strikeout, Brian Cleveland doubled down the left field line. Crowe was cut down at the plate trying to score on the play by a fabulous relay from Gilvin to shortstop Joe Naill and on to catcher Justin Scutchfield for the out to save the Kentucky lead.
Spencer Graeter led the UK offensive attack, posting a 3-for-5 evening. Alley was 2-for-3 for the Vols with two runs scored. Tharpe threw 6 2/3 innings for UT, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out 12 UK batters. The two UT pitchers combined to strike out 16 Wildcats on the evening.
The two teams will continue their three-game series on Saturday at 7 p.m. Seth Stanley (5-0) will go to the mound for the Wildcats where he will be opposed by Sean Watson (3-1). All of the action can be heard on 96.1 FM in Lexington. Live audio as well as live stats are available at www.ukathletics.com.
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