Nashville, (Tenn.) ? John Shelby belted two home runs for Kentucky on Saturday, but it was not enough as Vanderbilt scored twice in the first inning and three times in each the second and third frames, to beat the Wildcats, 8-6, in Nashville. The win was the 38th of the season for Vanderbilt (38-16, 15-14 SEC), setting a school record.
?John Shelby is at the end of his freshman season and he is right where we want him to be,? said UK head coach John Cohen. ?He?s the type of athlete that you want on your team, and we have a few others in our lineup today, and that?s very exciting for the future of Kentucky baseball.?
Vandy took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Antoan Richardson reached on a fielder?s choice and Warner Jones singled. The two runners then executed a double steal and UK catcher Justin Scutchfiled?s throw to second base was high, going into center field and allowing Richardson to score. Mike Baxter then singled to right, scoring Jones with the Commodores second run.
Kentucky (24-29, 7-22 SEC) came back to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the second, taking advantage of a costly VU error. Joe Naill walked with out and Billy Grace singled to put runners on first and second. After a strikeout, John Shelby?s hit a ground ball to third base that was fielded, but thrown over the head of Commodore first baseman Caesar Nicholas, allowing Shelby to reach and Naill to score from second. J. B. Schmidt then singled to score Grace and Caleb Stewart doubled to plate Schmidt. Stewart?s hit extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
The Commodores got to Kentucky starter Seth Stanley for three more runs in the bottom of the second, chasing Stanley from the mound in the process. Tony Mansolino and Worth Scott started the rally with consecutive singles and advanced on a Jonathan Douillard sacrifice bunt. Ryan Klosterman then singled in Mansolino, tying the game at 3-3. A Richardson single scored both Scott and Klosterman, putting the Dores on top, 5-3.
Vandy put three more on the board in the third, posting four consecutive singles to start the inning. Aaron Garza, Mansolino, Scott and Douillard all had hits, with the first three eventually coming around to score.
Shelby brought UK back to within three at 8-5 in the top of the fourth, launching his fourth home run of the season over the wall in centerfield. The shot scored Scutchfield, who had been hit by a pitch.
Stanley (6-3) took the loss for UK, allowing five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Mullins (7-2) got his seventh win of the season. The sophomore threw seven innings, surrendering five runs, two earned, on six hits while striking out seven Wildcats. Ryan Rote came on to get the final two outs of the game and earn his 11th save of the year.
Schmidt was 3-for-5 for UK, while Stewart and Shelby had two hits a piece. Ryan Klosterman was 3-for-5 for the Commodores, who saw six players have at least two hits in the game.
The two teams are scheduled to wrap up the three-game series on Sunday with a 2 p.m. (ET) start at Hawkins Field. The game, which can be heard live in Lexington on 96.1 FM, will be the last of the season for the Wildcats. Live audio and stats are available at www.ukathletics.com.
— UK —
