Cats lose fourth straight, drop first SEC series of the year
Catcher Luke Becker slides into home safely during the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Cliff Hagan Stadium in , Ky. on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. Photo by | Staff.
April 16, 2016
No. 18 UK baseball dropped its fourth straight game Saturday to No. 5 Vanderbilt by a final score of 3-2.
The loss secures the series win for the Commodores which means the Cats will move to 4-1 in SEC series play regardless of the outcome Sunday.
Despite the loss, UK starter Dustin Beggs remained undefeated receiving a no decision after tossing seven innings of one-run ball allowing just four hits and striking out five.
Beggs’ Vanderbilt counterpart, Kyle Wright responded with seven one-run innings of his own allowing just one unearned run on five hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts.
After the Cats were able to grab the lead in the eighth after scoring in back-to-back innings, the Commodores responded immediately. The Commodores loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning and All-American Bryan Reynolds stepped in and roped a two-RBI single giving Vanderbilt a 3-2 lead in the eighth.
Vanderbilt closer Ben Bowden then came in in the ninth and slammed the door on UK cementing the game two win for the Commodores which clinched the series.
Although the Cats have lost the series, they will look to avoid a sweep on Sunday when Kyle Cody takes the mound looking to build on his recent stretch of solid starts. Kyle Stone will get the start for the Commodores against a UK team looking to avoid its first sweep of 2016.
First pitch Sunday between the No. 18 Cats (22-12) and the No. 5 Commodores (28-7) is set for 3 p.m.
