Final: Western Kentucky 6, Kentucky 3

March 31, 2010
Defensive changes for UK to begin the ninth: Gunner Glad moved from third base to first base; Andy Burns came in at third, batting in the No. 6 spot occupied by Navarro Hall. Nick Kennedy struck out Casey Dykes, but Jake Wells followed with his fourth single in five at-bats. UK Coach Gary Henderson brought RH Matt Little into the game. Batter’s interference on Matt Borgschulte and a Logan Robbins strikeout ended the threat. In the bottom of the ninth, Taylor Black flied to right, pinch-hitter Lance Ray struck out and Chad Wright took a called third strike.
Final totals
Western Kentucky  001  012  200  — 6  9  2
Kentucky                010  110  000  –  3  6  2

In the eighth, UK’s Nick Kennedy retired Western in order on a groundout and a pair of called third strikes. Western turned to its seventh pitcher of the game, RH Rye Davis. Navarro Hall, batting from Braden Kapteyn, grounded out to second. Keenan Wiley and Marcus Nidiffer struck out. At the end of eight innings: Western Kentucky 6, Kentucky 3.

The bottom of the seventh opened with Western’s sixth change of pitchers, the Hilltoppers going with RH Shane Cameron, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound senior. For the first time in the game, UK went down 1-2-3. At the end of seven innings: Western Kentucky 6, Kentucky 3.

Monte Ketchum opened the top of the seventh with a high infield fly — which 3B Gunner Glad dropped for an error. Blake Crabtree came in to run for Ketchum, advancing to second on a groundout. UK Coach Gary Henderson called on RH Kyle Jackson to relieve Jordan Cooper. Jake Wells greeted Jackson with an RBI single to left and took second on the throw to the plate. Matt Borgschulte, batting in Kori Petri’s spot, struck out. For the second inning in a row, No. 9 hitter Logan Robbins was hit by a pitch. Also for the second inning in a row, Matt Payton followed with a run-scoring hit. This one, through the right side of the infield, scored Wells, moved Robbins to third and knocked out Jackson. RH Nick Kennedy got the call from Henderson. Kennedy struck out Jared Andreoli. In the middle the seventh: Western Kentucky 6, Kentucky 3.
Matt Payton

Matt Payton

UK’s Jordan Cooper ran into trouble in the sixth inning. After fanning Casey Dykes, Western’s 7-8-9 batters reached to load the bases — Jake Wells singled, Kori Petri walked and Logan Robbins was hit by a pitch. Then, Matt Payton doubled to left-center, scoring two runs. Cooper fanned Jared Andreoli, then issued an intentional walk to Kes Carter, reloading the bases. Matt Rice grounded to second for an inning-ending force play at second. For a third consecutive inning, Western went to the bullpen, this time bringing in RH Phil Wetherell. He set down the first two Cats he faced, but Taylor Black reached when left-fielder Petri dropped a shallow fly for a two-base error. Neiko Johnson walked, resulting in another change of pitchers for the Hilltoppers. This time, it was LH Garrie Krueger. He got Chad Wright to bounce out to first. At the end of six innings: Western Kentucky 4, Kentucky 3.

In the fifth, Mike Kaczmarek gave up a one-out single to Jared Andreoli, then hit Kes Carter with a pitch. UK Coach Gary Henderson called to the bullpen for RH Jordan Cooper. The baserunners immediately pulled off a double steal. Andreoli scored on Matt Rice’s groudout to second. Cooper got Monte Ketchum on a sharp come-backer. In the bottom of the inning, the Hilltoppers brought in RH Taylor Haydel. Chris Bisson laced a one-out single. He stole second and continued to third when catcher Rice’s throw went into center field. Bisson scored when Gunner Glad grounded out to short. Cory Farris reached on a dropped third strike and stole second, but was stranded. At the end of five innings: Kentucky 3, Western Kentucky 2.
UK's Chris Bisson waits on a pitch.

UK's Chris Bisson sits back on an early-inning pitch.

Western’s Monte Ketchum led off the fourth inning with a walk. One out later, Jake Wells moved Ketchum to third by singling sharply to right field. Kory Petri was hit by a pitch, but plate umpire Roger Fulks ruled that Petri didn’t attempt to get out of the way. Next pitch, Petri was called out on a check swing. WKU coach Chris Finwood argued both calls to no avail. Logan Robbins lined to left, where Chad Wright made a controlled hop to go up and get the ball. UK regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. RHP Tyler Gilliland came on to open the inning for Western. Keenan Wiley reached on a one-out single up the middle, his second hit in as many at-bats, then stole second. Marcus Nidiffer’s single up the middle brought Wiley around to score. After four innings: Kentucky 2, Western Kentucky 1.

UK's Chad Wright checks his swing, taking a Brian Edelen pitch for a ball.

UK's Chad Wright checks his swing, taking a Brian Edelen pitch for a ball.

Western came on to tie the game in the third. With one out, Matt Payton was hit by a pitch. He took second when RH Sam Kidd made an errant pickoff throw. John Andreoli singled up the middle to score Payton. LH Mike Kaczmarek came on in relief of Kidd. After walking Kes Carter, Kaczmarek gets out of the jam with UK’s second double play in as many innings. Right fielder Cory Farris snagged Matt Rice’s fly ball, then pegged a strike to third baseman Gunner Glad, who held on as Andreoli slid hard. In the bottom of the inning, Chris Bisson drew a two-out walk and Glad was hit by a pitch. A double steal put the runers in scoring position, but Farris struck out on a 2-2 pitch. After three innings: Kentucky 1, Western Kentucky 1.

In the second, Western wasted a leadoff walk to Casey Dykes, who was doubled off for the third out when Kori Petri popped to third on a hit-and-run play. Gunner Glad led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to left field. At the end of two innings: Kentucky 1, Western Kentucky 0.
Gunner Glad

Gunner Glad

UK freshman right-hander delivers a pitch Wednesday.
UK freshman right-hander Sam Kidd delivers a first-inning pitch Wednesday.

Nothing doing for either team in the first inning. Western got a two-out single by Kes Carter and a walk by Matt Rice, but both were stranded when Monte Ketchum fanned. UK got a leadoff single from Neiko Johnson, but he was picked off by RHP Brian Edelen. At the end of one, no score.

Western Kentucky’s Hilltoppers are in Lexington to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in a non-conference baseball game at Cliff Hagan Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Brian Edelen

Brian Edelen

The Hilltoppers (20-5), ranked as high as No. 18 in the nation, will send right-hander Brian Edelen (3-0, 3.32) to the mound.

Sam Kidd

Sam Kidd

UK, as high as No. 3, will counter with right-hander Sam Kidd (1-0, 6.61). The Wildcats (17-8) are in the midst of a 20-game stretch that includes 19 against ranked teams. The lone non-ranked team, Cincinnati, fell to UK Tuesday in the Queen City, 11-2.

Western won 10-9 when it visited Lexington last season.

Lineups

Western Kentucky — Matt Payton SS; Jared Andreoli RF; Kes Carter CF; Matt Rice C; Monte Ketchum DH; Casey Dykes 3B; Jake Wells 1B; Kory Petri LF; Logan Robbins 2B. Pitching: RH Brian Edelen (3-0, 3.32).

Kentucky — Neiko Johnson DH; Chad Wright LF; Chris Bisson 2B; Gunner Glad 3B; Cory Farris RF; Braden Kapteyn 1B; Keenan Wiley CF; Marcus Nidiffer C; Taylor Black SS. Pitching: RH Sam Kidd (1-1, 6.61).

Umpires – Roger Fulks HP; Keith Shartzer 1B; Bryan Donnelly 3B.

Weather — 73 degrees, 9 mph wind in from RF.

 

Share

No Comments » | Baseball, Cliff Hagan Stadium, University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Mark Maloney