Lexington, (Ky.) ? Mississippi State starting pitcher Jeff Lacher threw a complete game, allowing three runs, only one earned, on five hits to lead the Bulldogs past Kentucky, 12-3, on Sunday afternoon. Kentucky never got any offense going against the senior, with its only three runs coming in the fifth inning when MSU made three costly errors. The Wildcats mustered just five hits in the game. The loss gave State the series and dropped Kentucky to 16-15 (3-9 SEC) on the season.
?Jeff Lacher threw a good game today and we never made the necessary adjustments to get to him,? UK head coach John Cohen said. ?We competed well at the plate, but we just have to get better.?
MSU outfielder Brad Corley continued his torrid hitting pace, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and three runs driven in on the day. For the weekend, Corley hit 8-for-13 with five home runs.
Mississippi State (21-11, 5-7 SEC) got the scoring started early, getting to UK starter Craig Snipp for six runs in the top of the second inning. Corley started the inning with a solo home run and was followed by a Brad Jones double. After Thomas Berkery walked and Tyler Scarbrough singled to load the bases, Snipp hit Joseph Hunter to force in another run. Tyler Jones then singled in Berkery before Jeffrey Rea doubled to score Scarbrough and Hunter. The sixth run came on Steve Gendron?s sacrifice fly.
The Bulldogs added another run in the top of the fourth and two more in the fifth and sixth innings. Kentucky got its three runs in the bottom of the fifth when Casey Gilvin singled to start the frame and Joe Naill reached base on an error two batters later. Michael Bertram singled to score Gilvin and Spencer Graeter?s sac fly to center brought home Naill from third. Bertram advanced to third on the play due to an errant throw from Hunter and scored when Lacher?s throw to third base was wide and into left field.
The Cats never threatened after the fifth and State tacked on a run in the ninth to provide the final 12-3 margin.
Snipp (1-5) took the loss for Kentucky. Lacher improved to 3-4 on the season with the win. The complete game was the first of his career at MSU. Hunter joined Corley with three RBI for the Bulldogs.
Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to Louisville to battle the intrastate rival Cardinals in a 6 p.m. (ET) contest. Live stats of the game will be available at www.ukathletics.com.
— UK —
