By Derek Terry

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Desperately needing a win to keep its SEC Tournament hopes alive, UK turned to right-hander Zack Brown to stop the bleeding.

The sophomore starter responded with 7.1 scoreless innings on the mound, allowing five hits and striking out four against Tennessee, helping the Cats collect a 5-0 series-opening win.

“My last two starts had been pretty rough,” Brown said. “I needed to come out and get a good start on Thursday night to get the team up 1-0 (in the series). I made an adjustment this weekend in the bullpen and it worked out for me so I stuck with it throughout the game.”

The win gave UK (20-16, 6-9 SEC) just its second victory in its last eight games.

Brown allowed five runs in six innings in his last start against Arkansas and five runs in seven innings the start prior.

But despite Brown’s rough outings, head coach Gary Henderson said he knew the sophomore had a start in him like Thursday’s.

“I know he’s capable,” Henderson said. “I think more importantly, though, that he knows he’s capable. I thought he did a really good job of keeping his poise and getting out of some jams.”

Among those jams came in the seventh inning when Tennessee had runners at first and second. On the next batter, Brown broke off the mound to collect a slow roller and made a barehanded-play to get the runner out at first.

“I slipped a little bit and couldn’t get my spikes in the (dirt). Once I threw it, I was like ‘It better get there, cause otherwise two runners will score,’” Brown said. “I’m glad it made it to Evan (White) at first.

Logan Salow retired every batter he faced after coming in to relieve Brown in the eighth, striking out the side in the top of the ninth to close out the win for the Cats.

Henderson said Salow’s night was big for his confidence moving forward.

“He’s kind of back to late last season’s form, and he’ll continue to be good,” Henderson said. “The ninth was great, but I thought more important was the eighth. To be able to come in and shut that down was big.”

Junior Kyle Barrett led the Cats’ offense with three runs scored and one run batted in.

“That was a huge win for us,” Barrett said. “We needed that one. It’s always good to get the first win under your belt. Brown came out today and did what he did and competed. He gave us the best outing he could possibly give us and we got some run support for him.”

The Cats will go with right-hander Dustin Beggs on Friday to try and get the series win. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.