LEXINGTON, Ky. — No. 12 Kentucky?s dynamic offense returned to life Saturday as the Wildcats jumped out to an early 6-1 advantage and held on for a 7-5 win against No. 9 Arkansas at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The Wildcats (20-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference), who picked up their first league victory of the season after dropping a 10-2 decision to the Razorbacks on Friday night, used a balanced offensive attack in a new-look lineup. Four UK batters charted multiple-hit games and the Wildcats benefited from a season-high five Arkansas (15-6, 1-1) errors.
Freshman Jason Kipnis launched his fourth home run of the season in the third inning and led Kentucky with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with two runs scored. After tallying a season-low five hits on Friday, the Wildcats returned to form with their ninth double-digit hit game in their last 10 outings, with 11 hits as a team.
Kentucky used a committee of five pitchers in the game to hold Arkansas at bay. Scott Green earned the win for the Wildcats to improve to 2-0 after entering the game in relief of starter Andrew Albers and pitching two innings. Green allowed one hit and a run, while fanning four batters.
The Razorbacks shook Brock Baber for two runs in the middle innings, before James Paxton pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Aaron Lovett earned his second save of the season, tossing the final 1 2/3 innings of the game. UK was able to overcome allowing a season-high 11 walks.
The two teams meet Sunday at 1 p.m. for the rubber match of the three-game SEC-opening set. The Wildcats send preseason All-American right-hander Greg Dombrowski to the mound to face Arkansas righty Duke Welker. Both enter the contest, which will be carried live on WXRA 1580-AM, with 3-0 records.
Arkansas? Jess Todd took the loss, allowing six runs and eight hits over the first three frames to drop to 1-2 on the year. Brian McLelland and Travis Hill were strong in closing out the final five innings and allowing only a run.
After the Razorbacks jumped on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the first inning, Kentucky answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame. Mike Brown, who had his nine-game hitting streak snapped in the win, led off the inning with a walk and Kipnis followed with a single to second base. Sawyer Carroll plated Brown on the next at-bat with a hard-hit single through the right side. Brian Spear scored Kipnis with a fielder?s choice and Ryan Wilkes drove in Carroll for the third run for the Wildcats on a single to right field.
UK pushed across two more runs in the bottom half of the second inning as Kipnis connected on a round-tripper with two outs. Carroll and Sean Coughlin each singled before Carroll scored on a throwing error. Coughlin extended his team-best hitting streak to 14 games.
Arkansas made it close with three runs in the middle innings, highlighted by a two-run home run from catcher Jeff Nutt, to cut its deficit to 6-4 in the top of the fifth frame.
The Wildcats tacked on their final run of the game in the seventh as Brian Spear singled to center field to open the inning and Matt McKinney reached on a fielding error by McLelland on the mound. Wilkes singled to center field on the next at-bat to chase McLelland from the game. DeJesus walked with the bases loaded to plate the team?s seventh run.
Kentucky has now won 30 of its last 31 home regular-season contests.
Post Game Notes
Team Records and Series Notes
No. 12 Kentucky improves to 20-1 and 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference with its first league win of the season. No. 9 Arkansas drops to 15-6 and 1-1 in the conference.
The Wildcats have now won 30 of their last 31 home regular-season contests.
Arkansas leads the all-time series between the two schools 28-17.
Kentucky returns to action Sunday when it concludes the three-game series against the Razorbacks at 1 p.m. EDT.
Team Notes
The Wildcats have now plated 243 runs in just 21 games, after setting the school record with 500 runs scored during 2006.
Kentucky drew five walks to bring its season total to 151, the best in the SEC.
UK allowed a season-high 12 walks in the game. Individual Notes
Designated hitter Sean Couglin extended his hitting streak to a team-best 14 games.
Right fielder Mike Brown had his nine-game hitting streak snapped, going 0-for-4 from the plate.
Scott Green tossed a season-high 59 pitches, notching the win to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Aaron Lovett earned his second save of the season, hurling the final 1 2/3 innings.
Jason Kipnis hit his team-high tying fourth home run of the season in the second inning.
