University of Tennessee
Kentucky
Tennessee Falls in Series Opener at Kentucky 6-4
May 01, 2009 | Baseball
May 1, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. - With six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Kentucky defeated Tennessee 6-4 at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Friday night. Tennessee pitchers struck out seven batters and allowed their only runs of the game in the sixth.
Shortstop Zach Osborne drove in two runs while second baseman Cody Grisham was the lone player to collected two hits on the night for Tennessee (20-26, 6-16 SEC).
Kentucky (23-22, 8-14) out hit the Vols 10-6 on the evening, including a 2-for-2 night from center fielder Keenan Wiley who also drove in two runs.
Volunteer starter Nick Hernandez (2-5) surrendered six runs on 10 hits through six innings. The junior walked three and struck out three.
Wildcat hurler James Paxton (5-2) went eight innings allowing four runs on six hits while walking two and striking out 12. Kentucky reliever Braden Kapteyn picked up his fourth save of the season after pitching a scoreless ninth.
Tennessee took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single through the right side by left fielder P.J. Polk. Catcher Blake Forsythe scored after he reached on a single to right field.
The Vols took a 3-0 advantage in the top of the fourth on Osborne's two-run single through the middle. Designated hitter Tyler Horne and Grisham scored on the play.
Kentucky jumped out to a 6-3 lead with a six-run bottom of the sixth. A two-run single down the line by Wiley and left fielder Chad Wright's three-run double were the big hits of the inning.
UT got a run back in the top of the seventh to make the score 6-4 on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Cody Hawn. Center fielder Kentrail Davis crossed the plate after reaching on a single. Hawn has now driven in 68 runs this season which moves him into sole possession of seventh place on the school top-10 list for RBIs in a season.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh, Tennessee freshman Matt Ramsey entered the game and retired the next two batters on a strikeout and a groundout to keep the Wildcats from extending their lead. Junior Stephen McCray struck out the one batter he faced to record the final out of the eighth for Tennessee.
Ryne Simpson, Adam Adkins and Will Locante also saw action out of the Volunteer bullpen.
The two teams return to the field Saturday for the second game of the series at 4 p.m. Eastern time. Left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin (5-3, 3.73 ERA) will take the mound for Kentucky while Tennessee has not named a starter. The game will be televised regionally on Fox Sports Net.
