UK baseball suffers first loss of the season to USC

Junior+infielder%2Fcatcher+Thomas+Bernal+stretches+for+a+out+during+the+game+between+the+University+of+Kentucky+baseball+team+vs.+University+of+Missouri+in+Lexington+%2C+Ky.%2Con+Sunday%2C+April+13%2C+2014.+Photo+by+Michael+Reaves

Junior infielder/catcher Thomas Bernal stretches for a out during the game between the University of Kentucky baseball team vs. University of Missouri in Lexington , Ky.,on Sunday, April 13, 2014. Photo by Michael Reaves

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UK baseball suffered its first loss of the season Thursday night, falling 5-2 to the University of Southern California.

Freshman first baseman  Evan White got UK on the board first with his first career home run in the top of the third inning. The lead didn’t last long, however. as USC designated hitter David Oppenheim hit a two-out run-batted-in-double in the next inning to even the game.

The Cats regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning when senior third baseman Thomas Bernal hit an RBI-single to plate junior outfielder Kyle Barrett.

But USC once again battled back, taking the lead in the next frame off of a two-run home run by Timmy Robinson. The centerfielder had a near-homer robbed earlier in the game by UK left fielder Ka’ai Tom.

The Trojans added increased their lead in the seventh inning and again in the eighth to make it 5-2 heading into the final frame.

Right-hander Kyle Davis closed out the game for USC, keeping the Cats off the board for 1.1 innings to earn his third save of the season.

UK starting pitcher Dustin Beggs went 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks. The JUCO right-hander threw 70 pitches, which has been the max amount of pitches a UK starter has thrown this season.

The Cats will return to the field on Friday as they start a three-game series against UC Santa Barbara. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Staff Report