LEXINGTON, Ky. — The No. 11 Kentucky baseball team dropped two games of a doubleheader, falling to the Tennessee Volunteers 12-2 and 11-5, on Saturday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
After inclement weather postponed the Friday night opener, a doubleheader began on Saturday at Noon. Due to a regional television broadcast of game two on Fox Sports Net, game one was postponed until the completion of the nightcap. UK trailed 9-2 after the eight completed innings in game one before completing the final frame.
Game three of the series resumes with a 1 p.m. EDT matchup at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Wildcats will be looking to avoid its first Southeastern Conference sweep of the season, as it sends out preseason All-American Greg Dombrowski to the bump to square off with UT’s Lance McClain.
Kentucky (24-6-1, 4-6-1 Southeastern Conference) dropped the first contest 12-2 after allowing five defensive errors and accumulating a season-low four hits. Tennessee got an outstanding pitching performance from acclaimed southpaw James Adkins in game one, handcuffing the potent Wildcat lineup through 7 1/3 innings of action.
In game two, Kentucky allowed 10 unanswered runs in the final six innings to blow a three-run lead and notch a 11-5 victory. UK jumped out to a 4-1 advantage before the Volunteers rallied, rolling to 15 total hits.
UT Takes Game One After Five Errors Doom No. 11 UK
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Five fielding errors, eight unearned runs, and only four hits doomed No. 11 Kentucky as it dropped game one of a doubleheader, 12-2, to the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (24-6-1, 4-6-1 Southeastern Conference) got one-hit performances from four Wildcats – Sean Coughlin, Matt McKinney, Anthony Ottrando, and Ryan Wilkes. McKinney and Ottrando each tallied one RBI.
The Wildcats, playing in their first home game since a March 21 mid-week game with Western Kentucky, totaled a season-low four hits, while committing a season-high five defensive errors. On the day, the Wildcat defense allowed eight unearned runs.
Wildcat sophomore southpaw Chris Rusin took the loss, after working four innings. Rusin allowed the four deciding runs, only two of which were earned, to drop to 3-2 on the year. The Canton, Mich. native, struck out five, while tossing 97 pitches. Tennessee standout lefty James Adkins pitched 7 1/3 innings, to pick up the win and improve to 4-4.
Tennessee (20-12, 6-5 SEC) scored at its first opportunity, pushing across one run on one hit in the first inning. Rusin issued three walks in the frame, allowing the one run on a bases-loaded walk.
The Volunteers scored two more runs in the second inning, courtesy of two errors and a walk. Andy Simunic reached second on a fielding error with one out. After the second Rusin strikeout of the inning and a Tony Delmonico walk, J.P. Arencibia reached on a misplayed ball by the UK right fielder, allowing Simunic and Delmonico to score.
Kentucky answered with its first run in the bottom as Brian Spear led off with a walk and came around to score on an Ottrando RBI single through the right side, to cut the UT lead to 3-1.
Tennessee tacked on one more run in the fourth, as left fielder Jarred Frazier led off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error by the UK catcher. Delmonico delivered an RBI single to stretch the UT lead to 4-1.
The Volunteers broke the game open in the eighth, scoring five runs on five hits and an error. Two consecutive singles to lead off the frame, and a fielding error on the Kentucky first baseman, loaded the bases for Arencibia. The preseason All-American catcher knocked in an RBI single, scoring Simunic. After UK forced a grounded double play, Julio Borbon scored. Jeff Lockwood, who doubled as the Vols closer during the twin bill, drove in Delmonico with an RBI single. Danny Lima cleared the bases with a two-run home run, to give UT a 9-1 advantage.
Kentucky answered with one run in its half of the eighth as DeJesus drew his second walk of the day and scored after McKinney forced him in with a bases-loaded walk to make it 9-2.
After the eighth inning, the contest was stopped due to a regional television broadcast of the second game, set to air at 4:05 p.m. EDT on Fox Sports Net. The second game was completed, ending in a UK 11-5 loss, before the ninth inning of game one was resumed.
With UK trailing 9-2 and having just suffered its first loss of the series in game two, UT continued to swing a hot bat, scoring three runs in the ninth on three hits and one error. Shawn Griffin reached on an error to lead off and scored after Delmonico hit into a fielders choice. Arencibia drove in his second run of the contest, with a double, scoring Delmonico. Yan Gomes notched his own two bagger, scoring Arencibia for the final margin, 12-2.
No. 11 Kentucky Allows 10 Unanswered, Falls to UT, 11-5
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Tennessee erased a three-run UK lead by scoring 10 unanswered runs in the final six innings, to defeat No. 11 Kentucky, 11-5, in the nightcap of a doubleheader Saturday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The Wildcats held a 4-1 advantage after three innings before UT erupted for 10 runs in its final six frames. UT rolled to 15 hits, boosted by 3-for-3, two home run performance from Vol third baseman Cody Brown.
Kentucky and UT will resume the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT, with the Wildcats looking to bounce back and avoid the sweep. Taking the mound for UK will be preseason All-American Greg Dombrowski, to face off with Volunteer southpaw Lance McClain.
After inclement weather forced a postponement of the Friday evening opener, the two teams squared off in a double header that began at Noon. Due to a regional television broadcast of game two by Fox Sports Net, the contest had to start at 4:05 p.m. EDT, forcing the first game to be halted after eight innings. The contest was resumed in the top of the eighth after the completion of the second game.
The Wildcats (24-6-1, 4-6-1 Southeastern Conference) got solid performances at the plate from leadoff man Antone DeJesus and infielder Brian Spear. DeJesus batted 3-for-3 in game two, scoring two runs and driving in one. Spear, a junior from Gary, Ind., finished the day 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Andrew Albers got the starting nod for UK in game two and the junior southpaw opening up strong, building a 4-2 lead before being relieved by the UK bullpen. Albers worked five innings, striking out a career-high eight batters, walking only one. UK reliever Aaron Lovett dropped his first decision of the season, allowing the deciding run in the sixth inning.
UK utilized six relievers in the game, with Brock Baber working the most, tossing 2 1/3 innings. UT starter Craig Cobb hurled an impressive eight innings, to pick up the win and improve to 6-2 on the campaign.
Kentucky scored first in the top of the first inning as DeJesus led off with a single and a Mike Brown sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position. Sawyer Carroll singled to score DeJesus and give UK an early 1-0 lead.
Tennessee (20-12, 6-5 SEC) answered in the top of the second, pushing across one run to tie the game. Danny Lima got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Cody Brown pushed a sacrifice bunt to move Lima to second. Andy Simunic notched an RBI single, scoring Lima.
Kentucky plated three runs on three hits in the third, as DeJesus led off with a single and Mike Brown got hit by a pitch. Carroll laid down a sacrifice bunt and Sean Coughlin drew an intentional walk. Matt McKinney hung up a fly ball into left field, just high enough to score the speedy DeJesus. Spear followed, clearing the bases of McKinney and Coughlin with a two RBI double.
UT tallied one run in the fourth, courtesy of a Cody Brown home run to left center field to cut the UK lead to 3-2.
In the sixth, the Volunteers rallied with three runs, three hits, and one error. Yan Gomes singled to lead off and Jeff Lockwood doubled to right center. Lima ripped an RBI single and Cody Brown drew a base on balls. Shawn Griffin pinch hit and reached on a fielding error charged to the UK catcher, allowing Lockwood to score. Julio Borbon scored Lima on a fielders choice, to give UT a 5-4 lead.
Cody Brown gave UT a two-run cushion, blasting his second solo home run of the day, a line drive over the left-field fence. Griffin reached on a single and scored after Tony Delmonico laid down a sacrifice bunt to give UT a 7-4 lead. J.P. Arencibia delivered a two-run home run to left field to stretch the lead to 9-4.
In the bottom of the eighth, UK scored one run to cut the lead to 9-5. Jason Kipnis drew a walk and DeJesus plated him with a double to centerfield.
Tennessee tacked on two runs on five hits in the ninth for the final margin, 11-5.
