Lexington, (Ky.) ? Kentucky rallied from a 7-1 deficit to take an 8-7 lead, but three Mississippi State runs in the top of the ninth were too much for the Cats to overcome as they fell to the Bulldogs, 10-8, on Saturday at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The game evened the Southeastern Conference series at one a piece.
Kentucky (16-14, 3-8 SEC) posted a five-spot in the bottom of the fifth to pull within a run at 7-6. Jake Kungl started the rally with a home run, his third of the season and second in as many days, a solo shot to lead off the inning. Michael Bertram then singled and Justin Scutchfield was hit by a pitch. After J.B. Schmidt reached base on an error, the sacks were full when Spencer Graeter delivered a bases-clearing double. Billy Grace then singled Graeter home with the fifth run of the inning.
UK tied the game in the seventh as Graeter doubled and scored on a Grace single for the second time in a row, knotting the score at 7-7.
A Mississippi State error in the bottom of the eighth put Kentucky?s Mike Breyman on second base and he later scored on a sacrifice fly from Bertram, giving UK an 8-7 lead. The lead was short-lived, however, as Bulldog Brad Corley lifted a home run over the wall in left with one out in the ninth, again tying the score at 8-8. Pinch-hitter Tyler Scarbrough doubled and Tyler Jones singled with two outs, putting runners on the corner. Joseph Hunter then hit a sinking liner to center field that Kentucky?s John Shelby made a terrific diving attempt at, but the ball dislodged from Shelby?s glove, allowing both Scarbrough and Jones to score and put the Dogs back up by two.
Kentucky put two runners on base in its half of the ninth, but was unable to push anything across as Caleb Stewart flew out to left to end the game.
?We?re pleased with the effort we?re getting from our team right now,? UK head coach John Cohen said. ?We fought and got ourselves back in the game, but we just couldn?t finish it today. We are going to get better.?
Mississippi State catcher Craig Tatum, who drove in five runs on Friday night, continued his hot streak, driving a three-run home run over the wall in left center in the top of the first to give MSU (20-11, 4-7 SEC) an early 3-0 lead. Jeffrey Rea and Steve Gendron, who had reached on a walk and double, respectively, scored ahead of Tatum on the play.
Kentucky?s first run came in the third inning when Bertram led off with a single and later scored on a Joe Naill base hit. State added a run in the fourth and three in the fifth before the UK rally began.
Kentucky reliever Adam Kunkel (1-2) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits over four innings. Saunders Ramsey (4-0) earned his fourth win of the season with two shutout innings. Corley finished the game 4-for-5 with two runs driven in and two runs scored. Graeter was 3-for-5 with three RBI and a pair of runs for UK. Grace and Bertram were each 2-for-3.
The two teams are scheduled to wrap up the three-game series on Sunday. Game time is set for 1 p.m. (ET) from Cliff Hagan Stadium.
— UK —
