LEXINGTON, Ky. — No. 9 Arkansas connected on three home runs and combined for nine runs in the game?s final three innings Sunday to notch a 14-5 win against No. 12 Kentucky at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The Wildcats (20-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference), who were looking to claim their league-opening series for the third time in four years, fell behind 4-0 early in the game before the Razorbacks (16-6, 2-1 SEC) put the game out of reach with six runs on three hits in the seventh inning.
Kentucky starter Greg Dombrowski (3-1) suffered his first loss since May 20, 2006, going four innings and allowing five runs, including two home runs. The Wildcats used a season-high seven pitchers in a game in which UK struck out only three batters.
Freshman outfielder Jason Kipnis recorded his second three-hit game of the season with a 3-for-4 performance from the plate with three runs scored. Senior backstop Sean Coughlin, who extended his team-leading hitting streak to 15 games, recorded his team-leading 12th multiple-RBI game of the year by driving in two runs.
Arkansas preseason All-American first baseman Danny Hamblin provided much of the offense for the Razorbacks with his third and fourth round-trippers of the season. He finished with four RBI and also scored four runs. Catcher Brian Walker also had a home run and walked twice.
Starter Duke Welker (4-0) earned the win for Arkansas, working six innings and allowing just four hits. He also struck out nine batters. Relievers Chris Rhoads and Stephen Richards closed out the game for the Razorbacks.
For the third consecutive day, Arkansas jumped on the scoreboard first as right fielder Brad Secrist singled to second base with one out and Hamblin followed with his a two-run blast to give the Razorbacks a 2-0 advantage.
Arkansas added two more runs in the top of the fourth when Walker connected on a home run of his own to drive in Hamblin, who reached on a fielder?s choice with two outs. The round-tripper extended the Razorbacks? lead to 4-0.
The Wildcats responded with a run in their half of the fourth frame as Kipnis led off with a single and came around to score on an RBI single by Brian Spear.
After the Razorbacks added a run in the top of the fifth, the Wildcats plated a run in the bottom of the sixth when Kipnis led off the inning with a walk and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Coughlin.
Arkansas opened up the game in the top of the seventh and finished the game by scoring nine runs on four hits in the final three frames.
The Wildcats scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth as Coughlin ripped a shot that clanked off the top of the old scoreboard in right field, dropping down for a double. Spear followed with a single to shortstop. Four batters later, Antone DeJesus roped a two-run single up the middle to score the Kentucky duo.
Trailing 14-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Kipnis singled to center field on the second pitch of the frame and was later driven in on a sacrifice fly by Coughlin to make the final 14-5 margin.
Kentucky plays host to intra-state rival Western Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday before hitting the road for a three-game SEC series at LSU beginning Friday at 8 p.m. EDT.
Post Game Notes
Team Records and Series Notes
No. 12 Kentucky drops to 20-2 and 1-2 in Southeastern Conference play with the loss, while No. 9 Arkansas improves to 16-6 and 2-1 in league play.
The Razorbacks lead the all-time series 29-17 and have now won four of the last six meetings between the two teams.
Kentucky returns to action Wednesday when it plays host to intra-state rival Western Kentucky. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Team Notes
The Wildcats have now plated 248 runs in just 22 games, after setting the school record with 500 runs scored during 2006.
Kentucky used a season-high seven pitchers in the game.
Individual Notes
Starting pitcher Greg Dombrowski suffered his first loss since losing at Georgia on May 20, 2006.
Sean Coughlin recorded his team-leading 12th multiple-RBI game of the year by driving in two runs.
Coughlin extended his team-leading hitting streak to 15 games.
Jason Kipnis tallied his second three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Kipnis has notched five multi-hit games this year.
