LEXINGTON, Ky. — Despite a two-homer performance from UK outfielder Collin Cowgill, the Kentucky Black team earned a 9-5 win over the UK Blue squad, in game five of the annual Kentucky Baseball Fall World Series, held Friday evening at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The Fall World Series functions as the wrap up to the fall practice season, with a seven game, seven-inning series consisting of teams drafted by the veterans on the club. Game six resumes on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. EDT first pitch. Fans are encouraged to attend Saturday?s game, which will feature a typical gameday atmosphere, complete with videoboard capabilities, gameday music, and public address.
The Black team entered the game Friday holding a 3-1 series advantage in the seven-game series, having won the past two games. Black secured the series with its win Friday, forcing the Blue squad to now focus on pulling the series to 4-3 with a solid final two games.
Blue got strong performances from several players, as the team rolled to 11 total hits. Middle infielder Kevin Carby tallied a 2-for-3 day, and junior third baseman Chris McClendon pounded out three RBI as part of a 2-for-4 day. Catcher Tyler Howe added a 2-for-3 day with a RBI double. Sophomore Anthony Ottrando put the game away for Blue in the top half of the final inning with a two-run opposite field shot into the party deck in right field.
Cowgill, a preseason All-America selection in 2007, had an excellent day at the plate, despite the Black team?s win, batting 2-for-2 with a walk, two home runs, and three RBI. Cowgill, who missed the 2007 season due to injury after blasting 16 bombs during UK?s 2006 Southeastern Conference Championship run, has swung a solid bat in the series, batting .357 (5-for-14) with six runs scored. The junior has ripped two doubles, two homers, and four RBI. Cowgill, a Lexington native and former Kentucky High School Mr. Baseball, ripped his first homer of the series with a one-out opposite field shot, sent towering over the 30-foot monster in right field. In the fifth inning, Cowgill connected on another tape-measure shot, this one sent on a line drive into the left-center field gap, bouncing off the top of the scoreboard.
On the mound for Black, southpaw James Paxton started and worked three innings and Jonathan Huff closed out the final four frames, allowing only one hit and striking out four. Freshman righty Josh Weninger took the loss for the Blue, allowing the deciding three runs.
In game four held on Wednesday, Black extended its series lead to 3-1 with a 4-3 win over Blue. Cowgill, Carby, and catcher Marcus Nidiffer doubled in the game, with outfielder Troy Frazier ripping a triple. Black got strong relief pitching from two of the top right-handed arms on the UK roster, sophomores Tyler Henry and Clint Tilford, who combined to no-hit Blue through the final three innings. Henry picked up the win in game four and Tilford notched the save.
