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Gators Deal Cats Two Loses
The Kentucky Bat Cats dropped 2 of 3 to the Florida Gators in a weekend series at Shively Field.
Florida (11-3 in SEC, 29-9 overall) is currently ranked eighth in the nation according to the Collegiate Baseball Magazine Poll.
Saturday UK split a double-header with the visitor as it lost the opener 10-0 but came back to win the nightcap 8-6. On Sunday Florida, the SEC's Eastern division leaders, jumped out to a 5-0 lead after six-innings and held on for a 5-2 victory.
Kentucky's record drops to 5-10 in SEC play and 14-18 overall.
On Sunday, Scott Ruskin ignited the Gators' offensive attack in the fifth by lashing a two-run homer to put UF on top 3-0. The three runs was all the visitors needed as UK only mustered up two runs for the game.
Freshman Dan Eskew took the loss is his record now fell to 2-1.
Aided by four Gator homeruns and a nifty pitching performance by UF's Ruskin, Florida eased to a win in Saturday's first game. Ruskin allowed the Kentucky batters only four hits, while improving his record to 7-1 on the season. UK's Jay Ray (3-5) took the loss.
In the second game, the Bat Cats trailed 6-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning. But Kentucky scored two, four and two runs in the next three frames to take an 8-6 lead, and held on for the win.
Slugger Randy Clark and Jim Wilenbrink drilled home runs in the fifth to propel UK's offensive attack. Clark's round-tripper was a three-run shot, while Wilenbrink connected on a solo homerun.
Reliever Jack Savage earned his first win this season in two decisions.
Following games at Cincinnat (April 9) and Cumberland (April 11), Kentucky travels to Knoxville for a three-game series with arch-rival Tennessee (April 13-14).
Photos By Gary Cromwell