MOBILE, Ala. — Scott Green struck out a career-high 10 batters in just five innings of action, as the No. 20 Kentucky baseball team pounded out 13 runs, to take its second game in the 23rd annual Coca-Cola Classic, 13-3 over Fairfield, on Sunday morning at Hank Aaron Field.
Green, a Baseball America preseason All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection, got his first start since getting the nod at Florida on April 1, 2005. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound right-hander opened up his 2008 season in impressive fashion, striking out the side in the top of the first inning. Aside from Fairfield?s three-run second inning, Green was perfect, sitting down 10, now allowing a walk, working five innings, and seven hits. Green nearly single handedly retired the first eight outs of the game, striking out seven and recording one ground out hit back to the mound.
Freshman lefty Mike Kaczmarek and sophomore Tyler Henry combined to blank the Stags through the two final frames.
Fairfield?s Ryan Calabrese got the start and took the loss, lasting just three innings, allowing eight runs -three earned – walking five and striking out just one Wildcat.
Pacing UK offensively were preseason All-American outfielder Collin Cowgill, who finished with a 2-for-4, one triple, two RBI day. Sawyer Carroll finished 1-for-1, with three RBI, and Bryan Rose finished 1-for-1 with two RBI. First baseman Brian Spear, the UK season record holder for walks in a season, drew two base on balls, finishing 1-for-3 with two runs, and two RBI.
Kentucky struck early in the bottom of the first, as Brian Spear and Sawyer Carroll each drew one-out walks. Freshman Bryan Rose, who hit a home run in his first collegiate at bat yesterday vs. Xavier, promptly plated the duo with a line-drive double into the left-center field gap.
Fairfield answered in the top of the second, as Peter Allen led off with a double down the left-field line, later scoring on a single into right-center field from Brian Rudolph. Tucker Nathans followed with a double down the left line and Matt Tiagwad plated him with a double off his own off the right-field wall. Catcher Mike Bourdon gave the Stags the lead with a single through the left-side of the infield, scoring Nathans for a 3-2 lead.
Trailing for the first time in the young season, UK exploded out of the gates in the bottom half of the second, plating six runs on four hits, two Stag errors, two walks, and a hit by pitch. Tyler Howe got the inning started with a single through the right side and a Chris Wade sacrifice bunt moved Howe into scoring position. Freshman Chris Bisson reached on a throwing error by the Fairfield shortstop, promptly stealing second, putting Howe and Bisson in scoring position. Leadoff hitter Keenan Wiley drew a walk and with the bases juiced Spear came through with a two-RBI single through the right side. Carroll drove in his fourth RBI in six at bats with a sacrifice fly and Collin Cowgill legged out an infield single, driving in a run. Rose got plunked with a pitch and Chris McClendon finished off the six-run UK frame with a two-RBI single through the right side.
Carroll got UK?s fourth inning going with a lead off, four-pitch walk, his second of the day. Cowgill followed, delivering a rope off the left-field wall for a triple, scoring Carroll. Troy Frazier pinch hit for Rose and scored Cowgill with an RBI groundout, making it 10-3 UK.
The Wildcats stretched its lead in the fifth, plating two runs on one hit. Neiko Johnson led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a passed ball, and taking third on a stolen base. Keenan Wiley and Spear each drew walks, loading the bases for Carroll. The 6-foot-4 slugger pounded out a double down the right-field line, scoring two runs, giving him four RBI in the game.
In the bottom half of the seventh, UK plated its final run, forcing the mercy rule, and giving UK a 13-3 win. With the bases loaded and just one out, Brian Suerdick connected on an RBI single to give UK the final margin.
Kentucky (2-0) returns to action at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, completing its stay in the Coca-Cola Classic. UK will face off with South Alabama at USA?s Stanky Field. Fans can catch the action live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio), with Dick Gabriel, or can see the live video feed provided by the University of South Alabama, at its official website, USAjaguars.com. Fans wanting to see the action live, can pay a one-time fee of $6 to watch the action.
