LSU Hands No. 16 UK Series-Opening 10-Inning Loss LSU Gets Two Runs in the Top of the 10th to Claim 3-1 Win LEXINGTON, Ky. — After battling through a 1-1 pitchers duel through nine innings, the LSU Tigers used two runs in the top of the 10th inning to take a 3-1 lead that it would not surrender, holding off the 16th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in the series-opener 3-1, in the first game of a doubleheader at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Chris Rusin and LSU?s Ryan Verdugo dueled through the eighth inning, with Rusin tossing 8.2 innings, allowing five hits, one run and striking out five. Rusin issued two walks, his first walks in a span of 13.2 innings. Verdugo, scheduled to start the Sunday game, got the starting nod in the series opener, tossing eight innings of three-hit, one run ball, striking out seven. Jared Bradford (8-4) took the win, tossing two perfect innings of relief. UK?s right-hander Scott Green (5-3) took the loss, allowing the two decisive runs in his one inning of action, striking out the first three batters he faced.
The loss was just UK?s third home loss in the past 28 games, as the Wildcats have posted a 25-3 record at Cliff Hagan in 2008.
Collin Cowgill, Ryan Wilkes and Keenan Wiley were the only UK players to chart hits. LSU got multi-hit games from Chris McGhee, Sean Ochinko and Michael Hollander, each finishing with two hits.
Kentucky got on the board in the third, taking a 1-0 lead on a walk, hit batter and a throwing error. Keenan Wiley led off with a walk and Marcus Nidiffer got hit by a pitch. Bryan Rose attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, which was fielded by Verdugo, who fired the ball over Sean Ochinko?s head at first base, allowing Wiley to score from second.
LSU answered, tying the game 1-1 in the top of the sixth. Chris McGhee led off with a single and Michael Hollander followed with a single up into the right-centerfield gap. Rusin got Derek Helenihi to strikeout swinging, but the runners were off with the pitch, advancing to second and third. Blake Dean got the Tigers on the board, notching an RBI groundout that scored McGhee from third.
Kentucky appeared to have taken a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. Rose got the inning started reaching at first on a throwing error, charged to LSU?s shortstop. The next hitter, Cowgill ripped a double in to the left-centerfield gap, moving Rose to third. LSU intentionally walked Sawyer Carroll to load the bases, setting the stage for Brian Rose to be the hero. Spear hit a rolling grounder at LSU?s shortstop, who flipped the ball to second to get Carroll. Ryan Schimpf, the LSU second baseman did not attempt to make the turn, allowing Rose to make it home with the go-ahead run. Tony Maners, the third base umpire, immediately ruled Carroll out on runner?s interference, voiding the go-ahead run and ending the inning.
LSU took the lead in the top of the 10th, getting three consecutive two-out hits off Green to stretch a 3-1 advantage. McGhee singled through the left side and stole second. Hollander scored the go-ahead run, a double off the wall in the left-centerfield gap. Helenihi continued the rally, scoring Hollander with a single through the left side.
