Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

When: Saturday through Tuesday (7:05 Saturday, Monday and Tuesday nights, 1:35 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Juri Perez (0-0, 0.76 with Tri-City ValleyCats) vs. RH Alex Meyer (6-4, 3.32); Sunday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (10-2, 2.59) RH Chris McKenzie (2-2, 7.54); Monday, LH Luis Cruz (6-5, 3.58) vs. LH Kylin Turnbull (4-4, 4.82); Tuesday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (2-3, 5.45) vs. RH Taylor Hill (9-4, 4.58).

Note: Yours truly will be on vacation until mid-August. Keep up with what I’m doing at the Summer Olympic Games by checking my tweets — @MarkMaloneyHL — and my personal website: www.monkeyalarm.com.

Brian Goodwin

Sun to watch: CF Brian Goodwin (6-foot-1, 195 pounds, age 21, bats left, throws right, from Rocky Mount, N.C.) is batting .313 with six homers 32 RBI and 42 runs scored over 54 games. He has more walks (40) than strikeouts (39), with 14 stolen bases and a .927 OPS. Rated by Baseball America as the fifth-best prospect in the Nationals system, he was selected in the supplemental first round of the 2011 draft (34th overall) and signed for $3 million, out of Miami Dade Junior College. He had a good 2010 freshman season for North Carolina, but then was suspended for 2011. He signed just ahead of the Aug. 15 deadline and did not play pro ball last year. He’s batting .352 versus right-handed pitchers and .253 against lefties. Batting .308 at the all-star break, he’s up to .321 in 21 games since.

Nolan Fontana

Legend to watch: SS Nolan Fontana (5-11, 192, age 21, bats left, throws right, from Winter Garden, Fla.) signed less than three weeks ago after being selected by the Astros in the second round (61st overall) of last month’s draft, out of the University of Florida. Over seven games, he’s 7-for-23 (.304) with three RBI, two doubles and five runs. He has drawn 13 walks, struck out five times and is 4-for-4 in stolen-base attempts. “Nolan is a player that we are very excited about,” General Manager Juff Luhnow said when the Astros signed him. “He was a proven performer from the college ranks and, for us, he represents everything that we’re going to be looking for in the future. He’s a player that excels defensively at a premium position and has proven his capabilities offensively as well. With Florida, Fontana hit .284 with 10 doubles, nine homers, 40 RBI, 59 runs and a .406 on-base percentage for 66 games. He helped the Gators reach the College World Series and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference Defensive Team three years in a row.

Radio: WLXG-!M 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Hagerstown Suns

What: Five-game series

When: Wednesday through Sunday (5:05 p.m. Wednesday, 7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 1:05 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Wednesday, RH Carlos Quevedo (4-3, 4.24) vs. RH Alex Meyer (6-4, 3.40); Thursday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (9-2, 2.51) vs. RH Christopher McKenzie (2-2, 7.58); Friday, LH Luis Cruz (5-5, 3.71) vs. LH Kylin Turnbull (4-4, 4.88); Saturday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (2-3, 5.01) vs. RH Taylor Hill (8-4, 4.46); Sunday, RH Jonas Dufek (5-1, 5.33) vs. LH Bobby Hansen Jr. (2-0, 3.75).

Jose Fernandez

Legend to watch: SS Jose Fernandez (6-foot-1, 170 pounds, age 19, bats/throws R/R; from Loma de Cabrera, Dajabon, Dominican Republic) is 6-for-19 over his first seven games with the Legends. Included are three doubles and a homer. With five RBI and five runs scored, he has 12 total bases and a stolen base through Monday. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent on July 17, 2009, Fernandez spent each of the last two seasons with the Gulf Coast League Astros. In 2010, he batted .232, with seven doubles, six triples, a homer, 22 RBI, 16 runs and four steals for 48 games. Last year, over 43 games, he went .245 wit six doubles, three triples, 15 RBI and 21 runs, adding 11 stolen bases. He was the GCL Astros Offensive Player of the Month last August.

Caleb Ramsey

Sun to watch: SAL all-star OF Caleb Ramsey (6-2, 215, age 23, bats/throws L/R; from Houston) is batting .298 through Monday, with five homers, seven doubles, seven triples, 44 RBI, 48 runs and 11 stolen bases. Over his last 10 games, Ramsey is 13-for-38 (.342), with a pair of three-hit games. Selected by the Nationals in the 11th round of the 2011 draft, out of the University of Houston, Ramsey broke into pro ball last summer with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League. For 64 games, he batted .280 with a homer, 26 RBI 38 runs and 15 stolen bases. As a senior at Houston, he batted .318 and drove in 46 runs.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 1:35 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Jonas Dufek (0-0, 5.14) vs. RH Nathan Karns (0-0, 1.35); Friday, RH Nick Tropeano (2-2, 1.87) vs. RH Alex Meyer (2-3, 4.28); Saturday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (0-1, 14.73) vs. RH Taylor Hill (3-2, 2.88); Sunday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-1, 1.60) vs. RH Wirkin Estevez (4-1, 6.69).

Alex Meyer

Sun to watch: Saturday starting pitcher Alex Meyer (6-foot-9, 220 pounds, from Greensburg, Ind.) returns to the city where he was a standout for the University of Kentucky. The second of Washington’s two first-round draft picks (23rd overall) last June, the hard-throwing right-hander led UK in starts (14), complete games (4), wins (7), ERA (2.94), innings (101) and strikeouts (SEC-best 110) last year, as well as batting average-against (.222). He twice earned Southeastern Conference pitcher of the week honors last season, and was named to the all-SEC second team. Over three seasons as a Wildcat, Meyer went 13-12 with a 4.72 ERA, one save and 253 strikeouts in 211 2/3 innings. He ranked fifth in strikeouts on UK’s career list, and eighth in hits-per-nine-innings (8.10). He opted for UK after being selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 20th round of the 2008 draft. Thus far with the Suns, Meyer is 2-3 with a 4.28 ERA over six starts and 27 1/3 innings. He has struck out 33 and walked 12, holding opponents to a .220 average. At Hagerstown, he is 2-0, 0.75; on the road, he’s 0-3, 7.04.

John Hinson

Legend to watch: IF John Hinson (6-1, 180, from Asheville, N.C.) is 12-for-31 (.387) in eight games since being promoted from extended spring training. He has two homers, five RBI and eight runs scored, with two doubles and three stolen bases. Hinson, who bats left-handed and throws righty, was selected by the Astros in the 13th round of last year’s draft, out of Clemson University. As a redshirt junior last year, he batted .331 for Clemson, with nine homers, 12 doubles, three triples, 41 RBI and 23 stolen bases. Assigned to the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last summer, he batted .284, with two homers, nine doubles, a triple, 11 RBI and 18 runs over 43 games. In 162 bats, he struck out 26 times and drew 17 walks. He also stole seven bases in 12 attempts. He also was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 13th round of the 2010 draft.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Notes: Thursday is Thirsty Thursday (Pepsi and beer products for $1) and Bark in the Park Night. Fans are invited to bring their dogs. The admission price of $2 per dog will benefit the Paris Animal Welfare Society. Dogs are allowed only in the general admission areas (lawn and bleachers), so fans with dogs should not purchase tickets in the (reserved) seating bowl. … Friday is Faith and Family Night. The Afters, who had two No. 1 singles on the Billboard Christian radio charts last year, will perform a post-game concert.  … Reserved seats for Saturday’s Nurses Night game are sold out. Some bleacher and lawn tickets remain. Birdzerk, billed as America’s Ballpark Prankster, will entertain between innings. A fireworks show will follow the game. … Sunday, Mother’s Day, “pampering sessions” around the park, lunch and Mary Kay goodie bags are available as part of a $39 package for moms. More than $500 in door prizes will be awarded. A portion of Sunday’s ticket proceeds will benefit the Mary Kay Foundation for battered women and children. Sunday also is Kids Club Day, meaning kids can run the bases after the game.

Ninth inning

Logan Darnell retired Tyler Hanover on a popup to 2B Chris Bisson. CF Keenan Wiley narrowly missed colliding with LF Brian Adams to track down Trey Watkins’ fly to the gap. Austin Nola flied to Wiley in center. (0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.) FINAL SCORE: KENTUCKY 6, LSU 4.

Eighth inning

Marcus Nidiffer

Light rain turned into a steady rain. Mike Kaczmarek struck out Micah Gibbs, then was replaced by LH Logan Darnell, the latter’s first relief appearance of the season. Mikie Mahtook greeted Darnell with a line single to left. Leon Landry reached on a fielder’s choice and Alex Edward walked on a 3-2 pitch. Darnell struck out Matt Gaudet, stranding two runners and bringing LSU’s game total to 16 left on base. (0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 LOB.) Leadoff man Chris Bisson reached when RHP Austin Ross fielded a tapper down the first-base line and tried to lob a toss over Bisson’s head. The ball was too high for 1B Blake Dean, an error charged to Ross on the throw. Chad Wright followed with a walk, and LSU Coach Paul Mainieri yanked his starter. Ross turned the ball over to RH Paul Bertuccini. Gunner Glad bunted the runners to second and third, and Mainieri called to his bullpen for LH Zach LaSuzzo. With his first pitch, LaSuzzo hit Lance Ray. That loaded the bases, with one out, and prompted another pitching change, to RH closer Matty Ott. Marcus Nidiffer worked the count full, fouled off a pitch, then crunched a grand-slam homer over the left-field wall. Braden Kapteyn doubled down the left-field line and Neiko Johnson went in to run for Kapteyn. Keenan Wiley flied to left and Taylor Black struck out. (4 R, 2 H, 1 E, 1 W, 1 HB, 1 LOB.) After eight innings: Kentucky 6, LSU 4.

Seventh inning

Austin Ross

No. 9 hitter Tyler Hanover drew his third walk of the game, then stole second base. RH Nick Kennedy got Trey Watkins and Austin Nola on groundouts, then gave way to LH Mike Kaczmarek. Kaczmarek struckout Blake Dean. (0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 W, 1 LOB.) The Wildcats went down in order, giving RH Austin Ross 11 retired in a row. The last Wildcat to reach base: Keenan Wiley, on his fourth-inning RBI double. (0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.) After seven innings: LSU 4, Kentucky 2.

Sixth inning

LSU got a two-out single to center by Alex Edward but nothing else. (0 R, 1H, 0 E, 1 LOB.) For the second inning in a row, UK went down 1-2-3. (0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.) After six innings: LSU 4, Kentucky 2.

Fifth inning

One number tells why Kentucky is still “in” a game in which the pitching staff has walked 10 and hit two, not to mention five hits: LSU has left 12 runners on base through five innings, including three in the fifth. Tyler Hanover’s one-out single, a hit batsman and a two-out walk loaded the bases. Nick Kennedy got out of the jam when Micah Gibbs flied to left. (0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 W, 1 HB, 3 LOB.) Kentucky went down in order. (0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.) After five innings: LSU 4, Kentucky 2.

Fourth inning

Keenan Wiley

UK’s first two pitchers of the game have had less control than a prom-party crowd without a chaperone. Matt Little walked the first two batters of the inning on eight pitches, the eighth and ninth walks of the game for LSU. Coach Gary Henderson replaced Little with RHP Nick Kennedy. Mikie Mahtook tried to bunt the runners ahead, but C Marcus Nidiffer instead through out Blake Dean at third base. Leon Landry crushed a ball, sending it out of the park, but just foul down the right-field line. Next pitch, Landry flied out to right. Alex Edward tooka called third strike. (0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 2 W, 2 LOB.) UK got a one-out double off the right-field wall by Braden Kapteyn, making him 2-for-2. Keenan Wiley, after fouling five two-strike pitches, brought Kapteyn around with a double to the gap in left-center. LSU starter Austin Ross fanned the next two batters. (1R, 2H, 0E, 1 LOB.) After four innings: LSU 4, Kentucky 2.

Third inning

Matt Gaudet

More control issues, more problems for UK. LSU’s Mikie Mahtook drew a leadoff walk. He was forced at second, but SS Taylor Black’s relay to first sailed into the Wildcats dugout. The error left Leon Landry on second base. One out later, Matt Gaudet socked his 16th homer of the season over the right-field wall. No. 9 hitter Tyler Hanover then drew his second walk in as many plate appearances. Trey Watkins also walked, prompting a visit from UK Coach Gary Henderson with RHP Matt Little. Austin Nola flied to right, stranding two runners and pushing LSU’s three-inning total to seven runners left on base. (2 R, 1 H, 1 E, 3 W, 2 LOB.) For UK, Chris Bisson led off with a double off the wall in right-center. However, Chad Wright struck out, Gunner Glad popped out to shallow right and Lance Ray grounded out to third. (0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.) After three innings: LSU 4, Kentucky 1.

Second inning

Matt Little

Alex Meyer’s control problems carried over from the first inning. After walking No. 9 batter Tyler Hanover and beaning Trey Watkins, Meyer got the hook from Coach Gary Henderson. In one inning-plus, Meyer threw 50 pitches, 22 for strikes. RH Matt Little came on to strike out Austin Nola. Blake Dean lined a single to right, loading the bases. Little escaped, though, by getting Micah Gibbs to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. (0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 W, 1 HB, 2 LOB.) Marcus Nidffer led off UK’s half of the inning with a walk and moved to second on Braden Kapteyn’s sharp single to left. Keenan Wiley bunted the runners to second and third. Nidiffer scored and Kapteyn took third on Taylor Black’s high chopper to first. Brian Adams struck out looking. (1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 W, 1 LOB.) After two innings: LSU 2, Kentucky 1.

First inning

Micah Gibbs

Kentucky RHP Alex Meyer struggled to find the strike zone and LSU pounced to score the game’s first two runs. Trey Watkins led off with a single up the middle. One out later, Blake Dean walked. With both runners in motion, Micah Gibbs singled through the right side to score Watkins and advance Dean to third. After Meyer fanned Mikie Mahtook, Leon Landry walked to load the bases. A pickoff attempt by C Marcus Nidiffer on a throw to first base sailed down the right-field line for an apparent run-scoring error. However, plate umpire Larry Short apparently ruled batter Alex Edward interfered with Nidiffer and sent all the runners back. LSU Coach Paul Mainieri put up an extended argument, to no avail. Edward walked, though, forcing in Dean with the second run. Meyer fanned Matt Gaudet. (2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 walks, 3 left on base.) UK got a one-out single up the middle by Chad Wright. LSU righty Austin Ross got Gunner Glad and Lance Ray looking at third strikes. (0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base.) After one inning: LSU 2, Kentucky 0.

 

Pre-game

Kentucky plays host to LSU in the finale of a three-game Southeastern Conference baseball series at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Wildcats will be going for their first series sweep of the Tigers since 1991.

Lineups

LSU (34-17 overall, 12-14 SEC) — Trey Watkins LF; Austin Nola SS; Blake Dean 1B; Micah Gibbs C; Mikie Mahtook RF; Leon Landry CF; Alex Edward 3B; Matt Gaudet DH; Tyler Hanover 2B. Pitching: RH Austin Ross (3-4, 5.43).

KENTUCKY (28-23, 11-15) — Chris Bisson 2B; Chad Wright RF; Gunner Glad 3B; Lance Ray 1B; Marcus Nidiffer C; Braden Kapteyn DH; Keenan Wiley CF; Taylor Black SS; Brian Adams LF. Pitching: RH Alex Meyer (5-2, 6.23).

UMPIRES — Larry Short HP; Todd Henderson 1B; Scott Erby 3B.

 

 

 

 

 

Braden Kapteyn

Cory Farris

Chris Bisson

EIGHTH INNING — RH Braden Kapteyn came out of the UK bullpen to open the inning. He struck out Adrian Morales. Pinch-hitters Evan Marzilli and Brady Thomas lined to first and struck out, respectively. Marzilli stayed in the game in LF, Thomas at C. The Gamecocks also brought in their eighth pitcher of the game, RH Ethan Carter. Marcus Nidiffer coaxed a leadoff walk and was bunted to second by Taylor Black. Keenan Wiley was hit by a pitch. Cory Farris lined an RBI-double to the right-field corner, Wiley going to third. That brought another Carolina pitching change, this time going to RH Patrick Sullivan. With the infield pulled in, Neiko Johnson walked on five pitches to load the bases. Chris Bisson lined a first-pitch, two-run single to right, Johnson holding up at second. The Wildcats then pulled off a double steal, a run scoring when Thomas’ throw to third got away for an error. Going to the ninth inning: Kentucky 9, South Carolina 3. 

Alex Meyer

SEVENTH INNING — Kentucky RH Alex Meyer struck out the Nos. 2-3-4 batters in a perfect seventh inning. In the bottom of the inning, Cory Farris pinch-hit for DH Michael Williams. Farris fanned. Neiko Johnson was hit by a pitch, then stole second, a call disputed by Carolina Coach Ray Tanner. Chris Bisson walked on a full-count pitch. Chad Wright’s 4-6 fielder’s choice put runners on the corners with two outs. Gunner Glad hit a high chopper, which caught SS Bobby Haney tried to short-hop. He was unable to come up with the ball, though, for a run-scoring error. Wright stopped at second. LH Tyler Webb came in to pitch, getting Lance Ray on a fly to left. After seven innings: Kentucky 5, South Carolina 3.

SIXTH INNING — Carolina got a leadoff single from Adam Matthews and a two-out walk from Scott Wingo. Both were stranded when leadoff batter Whit Merrifield grounded into a force play, dropping him to 0-for-4 in the game and 1-for-13 in the series. Carolina went with another pitcher in the bottom of the inning, RH Matt Price. He set the Wildcats down in order. After six innings: Kentucky 4, South Carolina 3.

Chad Wright

FIFTH INNING — Carolina’s Christian Walker laced a one-out single up the middle, ending Alex Meyer’s string of consecutive batters retired at eight. UK’s Keenan Wiley went to the warning track in straightaway center to flag down fly balls by Jackie Bradley Jr. for the first out and Nick Ebert for the second. Adrian Morales struck out to strand Walker. Neiko Johnson led off UK’s half of the inning with a single. Gamecocks Coach Ray Tanner again went to his bullpen, pulling RH Jose Mata in favor of LH Michael Roth. Chris Bisson tried to bunt Johnson ahead but got too much on the ball and Roth threw out Johnson at second. Bisson stole second, though, and scored on Chad Wright’s single up the middle. Tanner called to his bullpen for RH John Taylor. Gunner Glad fouled out and LH Steven Neff became the Gamecocks’ fourth pitcher of the inning. On Neff’s first pitch, Wright stole second, but was stranded when Lance Ray struck out. After five innings: Kentucky 4, South Carolina 3.

Taylor Black

FOURTH INNING — The Gamecocks went down in order for the second inning in a row. UK got its third solo homer of the game, a one-out drive down the short (310-foot) right-field line by Taylor Black. His ninth dinger of the season tied the game at 3. Keenan Wiley followed with a single to right, knocking out Gamecocks RH Jay Brown. Coach Ray Tanner turned to RH submariner Jose Mata. Wiley was thrown out trying to steal and Michael Williams struck out.  After four innings: Kentucky 3, South Carolina 3.

THIRD INNING — Carolina went down 1-2-3 on grounders to 2B Chris Bisson, the first of which was an outstanding play on a ball up the middle

Marcus Nidiffer

and robbed Adrian Morales of a hit. UK’s Neiko Johnson drew a leadoff walk. One out later, he advanced to second on Chad Wright’s groundout. Then, as Gunner Glad drew a walk, Johnson stole third. However, Lance Ray lined out to second. After three innings: South Carolina 3, Kentucky 2.

Adrian Morales

Adam Matthews

Gunner Glad

FIRST INNING — Kentucky RH Alex Meyer, making his first appearance since April 11 due to mononucleosis, retired the first two batters he faced, then ran into a storm. Christian Walker reached on a fielding error by 2B Chris Bisson. Nick Ebert was hit by a pitch. Adrian Morales singled up the middle to drive in Walker and move Ebert to second. Adam Matthews singled to right, scoring Ebert and advancing Morales to third. Morales scored on a passed ball charged to Marcus Nidiffer, making it 3-0. Kyle Enders was hit by a pitch. Finally, Bobby Haney struck out. Gunner Glad put Kentucky on the board, driving a first-pitch offering far over the wall down the left-field line. His 11th homer of the season also pushed his hitting streak to 11 games and gave him 27 consecutive games reaching safely. After one inning: South Carolina 3, Kentucky 1.

Pre-game — South Carolina and Kentucky are about set to begin the deciding game in a three-game Southeastern Conference baseball series at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

The Gamecocks won Friday’s opener 13-9. Kentucky bounced back Saturday with a 2-1 triumph.

Sunday’s starting lineups:

SOUTH CAROLINA (36-10 overall, 17-6 SEC) — Whit Merrifield RF; Jackie Bradley Jr. CF; Christian Walker 1B; Nick Ebert DH; Adrian Morales 3B; Adam Matthews LF; Kyle Enders C; Bobby Haney SS; Scott Wingo 2B. Pitching: RH Jay Brown (2-0, 4.72).

KENTUCKY (25-21, 8-15) — Chris Bisson 2B; Chad Wright LF; Gunner Glad 3B; Lance Ray 1B; Marcus Nidiffer C; Taylor Black SS; Keenan Wiley CF; Michael Williams DH; Neiko Johnson RF. Pitching: RH Alex Meyer (4-2, 7.30).

UMPIRES — Keith Sanders HP; Tony Maners 1B; Randy Watkins 3B.

Weather — 50 degrees, wind 4 mph from the north.

In the ninth, Michael Williams took over at catcher for Kentucky, batting in the eighth spot. Alabama’s Jake Smith reached on a one-out single and took second on a wild pitch. David Kindred singled off the glove of pitcher Matt Little, Smith moving to third. Brett Booth came in to run for Kindred, but Little immediately picked him off, 1-3-6. Andrew Miller’s infield single, a high hopper over Little’s head, scored Smith. Miller moved up a base on Brock Bennett’s single to right. Little plunked Taylor Dugas, loading the bases and prompting another pitching change — RH Braden Kapteyn, who was already in the lineup at DH. Josh Rutledge swung at Kapteyn’s first pitch, flying out to second baseman Chris Bisson in shallow right. In the bottom of the ninth, Cory Farris flied to center. Bisson doubled to right-center, bringing Chad Wright to the plate with the potential tying run. Wright lined out to left, though. On a 3-2 pitch, Gunner Glad took a called third strike on the inside corner.

Final totals
Alabama 11 runs, 14 hits 2 errors
Kentucky 9 runs, 17 hits, 2 errors

Eight inning: Alabama takes lead with 5-run inning

Cory Farris stayed in the game for UK, taking Neiko Johnson’s spot in right field. Jon Kelton led off the inning for Alabama with a double to right-center. Jake Smith singled up the middle, advancing Kelton to third. RH Jordan Cooper came in from the UK bullpen, taking over from Nick Kennedy. David Kindred’s double down the right-field line scored Kelton and moved Smith the third. Andrew Miller’s infield single to shortstop scored Smith. Brock Bennett put down a bunt, fielded by Cooper. Chris Bisson, covering at first, simply dropped Cooper’s toss for an error and loading the bases with nobody out. Everybody moved up on Taylor Dugas’ bounce-out to second base, Kindred crossing the plate to cut UK’s lead to 9-8. RH Matt Little came in from the UK bullpen. Josh Rutledge blooped a two-run single to center, giving the Tide a 10-9 lead. A wild pickoff attempt by Little moved Rutledge to second. Little retired the next two batters, though, to hold Alabama to nine batters in the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Alabama went with its sixth pitcher of the day, RH Nathan Kilcrease. Andy Burns just missed a homer, sending left-fielder Kelton to the warning track for a long out. Braden Kapteyn walked, then advanced two bases on Keenan Wiley’s single to right. Taylor Black took a called third strike. With Lance Ray hitting for Marcus Nidiffer, Wiley stole second without a play. But Ray struck out. After eight innings: Alabama 10, Kentucky 9.

Seventh inning: Both sides strand runners

Alabama’s Taylor Dugas knocked a one-out single to right. UK Coach Gary Henderson called on RH Nick Kennedy to relieve LH Mike Kaczmarek. A wild pitch put Dugas in scoring position. One out later, Ross Wilson battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk. Kennedy got Clay Jones to bounce to short for an inning-ending force play at second. Cory Farris pinch-hit for Neiko Johnson and flied out to open the bottom of the inning. Chris Bisson drew a walk. One out later, he stole second and took third on a wild pitch. However, Gunner Glad struck out. After seven innings: Kentucky 9, Alabama 5.

Sixth inning: Slam highlights Bama’s 5-run inning

Jake Smith

After a long rest in the dugout, RH Alex Meyer walked Alabama leadoff man Taylor Dugas and added a base via a wild pitch.  Josh Rutledge singled up the middle, moving Dugas to third. After a visit from Coach Gary Henderson, Meyer got Ross Wilson on a fly to shallow right, but walked Clay Jones to load the bases. Henderson then went to the bullpen, calling on LH Mike Kaczmarek. He hit Jon Kelton with a pitch, forcing in Dugas with the Tide’s first run. Jake Smith then ripped a 1-2 pitch over the center-field wall, his second career grand slam against UK and his fourth slam overall. Kaczmarek got the next two batters to end a five-run, two-hit inning. In the bottom half, Alabama went to its fifth pitcher of the game, RH Tyler White. Braden Kapteyn led off with his third hit of the game, a single to center. Kapteyn moved up on Keenan Wiley’s bunt and Taylor Black’s groundout, but was stranded at third. After six innings: Kentucky 9, Alabama 5.

Fifth inning: UK bats around in six-run inning

Alex Meyer

Wildcats RHP Alex Meyer continued to cruise, setting Alabama down in order. Then UK built on its lead. Andy Burns led off with a triple to the left-field corner, then came home on Braden Kapteyn’s second RBI-single of the game. Keenan Wiley beat out a bunt single, putting runners on first and second. Taylor Black also put down a bunt — which LHP David Head threw into right field for a run-scoring, two-base error. When the throw to second was bobbled by shortstop Josh Rutledge, for a second error on the play, Wiley also scored. The Crimson Tide changed pitchers, bringing in LH Matt Taylor. He beaned Marcus Nidiffer. Neiko Johnson’s bunt moved runners to second and third. One out later, Chad Wright came through with his third hit of the game, a two-run single to left, and took second base on the throw. Wright scored on Gunner Glad’s third hit of the game, a single up the middle. Burns, who led off the inning, lined out to right. After five innings: Kentucky 9, Alabama 0.

Taylor Black

Fourth inning: Wildcats stretch lead to 3-0

Alabama got its second hit of the game, by Jon Kelton, and like the first one it was a double. It came with two outs, though, and RH Alex Meyer struck out Jake Smith for the second time to strand Kelton. Taylor Black led off the UK half of the inning with his fourth homer of the season, the ball glancing off the top of the left-field wall. Marcus Nidiffer followed with a single to left, his second hit in as many at-bats. That knocked out RH Tucker Hawley, who was replaced by LH David Head. Neiko Johnson bunted Nidiffer to second. One out later, Chad Wright sent an RBI-double to the right-field corner. Wright was stranded. After four innings: Kentucky 3, Alabama 0.

Third inning: UK strikes first

Braden Kapteyn

Alabama’s Taylor Dugas drew a two-out, full-count walk. He moved to second on a balk by Alex Meyer. But Josh Rutledge, who doubled in the first inning, grounded out to shortstop. UK got a two-out single by Gunner Glad, making him 2-for-2. Andy Burns walked on four pitches. Braden Kapteyn’s single to left plated Glad, moved Burns to second and finished Bama LH Taylor Wolfe. Coach Mitch Gaspard summoned RH Tucker Hawley from the bullpen. He got Keenan Wiley to fly to center. After three innings, Kentucky 1, Alabama 0.

Second inning: Meyer in control

RH Alex Meyer retired Alabama in order. Included was a strikeout, his third of the game. LH Taylor Wolfe set down the first two Kentucky batters, before Marcus Nidiffer doubled to left. Neiko Johnson struck out to end the threat. After two innings, no score.

First inning: Cats waste scoring chance

Alabama got a one-out double from Josh Rutledge, but RH Alex Meyer was otherwise in contol and Rutledge was stranded. In the bottom of the inning, Chris Bisson led off with a swinging-bunt single and advanced to second on Chad Wright’s single up the middle. Bisson was picked off by catcher Brock Bennett, a play that would end up costing a run. Gunner Glad made it three singles in a row, lining a 3-2 pitch to left. Wright needed every bit of his considerable speed to make it safely to third. Glad stole second as Andy Burns took a full-count pitch for a strike. Braden Kapteyn flied out to right. After one inning, no score.

Pre-game: UK goes for sweep

It’s a beautiful Sunday for baseball in the Cliff Hagan Stadium neighborhood — sunny, 67 degrees with a 6 mph breeze from right field to left.

Kentucky (21-11, 4-7 Southeastern Conference) is trying for a three-game sweep of Alabama (20-11, 4-7). Game time is 1 p.m.

The Wildcats pulled out a 7-6 victory Friday night and won 8-2 Saturday.

Starting lineups

ALABAMA — CF Taylor Dugas; SS Josh Rutledge; 2B Ross Wilson; 1B Clay Jones; LF Jon Kelton; 3B Jake Smith; DH David Kindred; RF Andrew Miller; C Brock Bennett. Pitching: LH Taylor Wolfe (2-1, 4.01).

KENTUCKY  — 2B Chris Bisson; LF Chad Wright; 1B Gunner Glad; 3B Andy Burns; DH Braden Kapteyn; CF Keenan Wiley; SS Taylor Black; C Marcus Nidiffer; RF Neiko Johnson. Pitching: RH Alex Meyer (4-2, 7.64).

UMPIRES – HP Richie Tallent; 1B Donald Gilmore; 3B Mark Chapman.