KSR Baseball Blog - Game 3 UK v Tenn Sunday

(05/11/2008)

2:02

Hello everybody -- welcome to the KSR Baseball Blog and Virtual Tailgate as we root the Kentucky Wildcats on in Game # 3 against the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoville. The Cats have won the series, capturing Game # 1 Friday night 5-2 before winning again yesterday in Game # 2, 5-3, placing the Cats two games ahead of the Vols in the race for the SEC Tournamenet # 8 seed. The series win also assures the Cats that they will win any tiebreaker with the Vols in a two-team tie, as the initial tiebreaker is head-to-head competition.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:02

2:03

Regular Sunday starter Greg Dombrowski will take the hill for the Wildcats today. Dombrowski has been ultra-reliable for the Cats for years, as the steady senior continues to excel in Game 3's during the season.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:03

2:04	Will Kentucky receive an NCAA tournament bid even if they do not make the SEC Tournament? Yes ( 80% ) No ( 20% ) Sunday May 11, 2008 2:04

2:09

The SEC tournament invites the two Division winners from the conference, as well as the top six teams from either division, based upon winning percentage. As of this morning, here are the SEC tournament participants (with four games remaining for most teams):

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:09

2:12

1. SEC East Champ: Georgia 18-7-1
2. SEC West Champ: LSU 14-11-1

3. Vanderbilt 15-10
4. Florida 14-12
5. Kentucky 13-13
5. South Carolina 13-13
5. Alabama 13-13
5. Ole Miss 13-13

9. Arkansas 12-13
10. Tennessee 11-15
10. Auburn 11-15
12. Miss. State 7-19

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:12

2:15

If you're "scoreboard watching" today, you'll want to watch all the 13-13 teams, as well as Arkansas, for sure.

We're at Kentucky's game, of course, but here are the other key matchups today:

South Carolina @ Arkansas. Arkansas has taken the first 2 games.
Ole Miss @ Auburn. Auburn won yesterday to tie the series at 1-1.
Florida @ Alabama. Gators won yesterday to tie the series at 1-1.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:15

2:17

And back to the ballgame today.

Wildcats threaten in the top of the 1st inning, but commit a major faux paus by being picked off 1st base with runners on 1st and 3rd to end the inning.

Chris McClendon delivered a 1-out double, and advanced to 3rd when Collin Cowgill reached on a fielding error before Cowgill was picked off first base to end the inning.

Dombrowski to take the mound for the Cats, no score in the game.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:17

2:31

Dombrowski gives up a 1-out double to the UT centerfielder Davis, but strands him at 2nd base.

After 1 complete inning:

UK - 0
UT - 0

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:31

2:34

Cats are set down in order in the top half of the 2nd inning.

Bottom of the 2nd, no score.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:34

2:52

Vols draw first blood in the game and take a 1-0 lead.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:52

2:55

Danny Lima reached on an infield single, and advanced to 2nd on an error on the play by Chris McClendon and later scored on a fielder's choice. Unearned run, but it counts just the same.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:55

2:56

Vols have made a pitching change in the top of the 3rd inning. Starter Zane Stone was lifted after Marcus Nidiffer singled.

Now pitching: Jeff Lockwood

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:56

2:57

Game tied 1-1.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:57

2:57

Chris McClendon slams his 2nd double of the game, driving in Nidiffer to tie the game at 1-1.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:57

2:58

Lockwood was one of the few bright spots for UT yesterday, homering in the 9th inning.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:58

2:59

Sawyer Carroll is hit by a pitch, and the Cats have two on, two out with Collin Cowgill at the plate.

A daring double steal is pulled off, and the plate is set for Cowgill with two runners in scoring position. Cats need to take advantage of this two out opportunity.

Sunday May 11, 2008 2:59

3:01

Cats 2
Vols 1

Cowgill reaches on an infield single, and the double steal pays off as McClendon scoots home with the go-ahead run.

Carroll moves to 3rd, and runners are on the corners with Ryan Wilkes at the plate. Still two outs.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:01

3:08

And Wilkes delivers a two-out RBI single.

UK 3
UT 1

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:08

3:09

Wildcats have notched three runs here in the top of the 3rd, bouncing back after the Volunteers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the 2nd.

Two runners still on base, two outs for Brian Spear. Cats are already into the bullpen of the Vols early today, with Lockwood on in relief for Tennessee.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:09

3:11

Spear draws a walk to the load the bases. Vol pitcher David Lockwood, who started as DH today, is in trouble with two outs. Cats are threatening to blow the game open.

Chris Wade in the batters box. He struck out in his first trip to the plate.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:11

3:12

And Lockwood is removed after facing 4 Wildcat batters, and retiring only one.

Ty'Relle Harris will face Wade.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:12

3:17

Wade whiffs for the 2nd time on the day to strand 3 Wildcat runners. Let's hope that doesn't come back to haunt the Cats. In the first inning, UK left a runner on 3rd base as a runner on 1st base was picked off to end the inning as well.

Bottom of the 3rd inning:

UK 3
UT 1

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:17

3:26

Vols have a runner in scoring position with 1-out. Leadoff hitter PJ Polk singled, then advanced to 2nd base on a wild pitch after Davis struck out.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:26

3:31

Vols have retaken the lead, plating 3 runners here in the bottom of the 3rd.

UT 4
UK 3

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:31

3:32

DH Lockwood doubled in the first run, and cleanup hitter Cody Brown smacked a 2-run home run to put the Vols ahead.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:32

3:33

Shawn Griffin doubled, and Danny Lima has added to the Vol lead, singling up the middle.

Tennessee 5
Kentucky 3

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:33

3:33

Dombrowski is being beaten up pretty badly now. His line:

2-1/3 innings
7 hits
5 runs (4 earned)
3 doubles
1 home run

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:33

3:39

And that's all for Dombrowski for the day, as the Vols chase him early.

Andrew Albers on in relief. The runner on 1st base is still Dombrowski's responsibility, but otherwise the book is almost closed on the senior for today.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:39

3:41

Yan Gomes delivers a pinch hit double, rudely greeting Albers, and moving runners to 2nd and 3rd. Still only 1-out.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:41

3:46

Albers gets UK out of the inning with no further damage, stranding runners at 2nd and 3rd with only one out. Big relief performance by Albers.

Top of the 4th inning:

Tenn. 5
Kentucky 3

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:46

3:53

Cats mounting a threat in the top of the 4th inning. Howe walked to lead off the inning, and Nidiffer reached on an error by the third baseman. Wiley sacrificed both runners over, and the tying runs are in scoring position with only one out.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:53

3:56

Tenn 5
Ky 4

McClendon smacks his 3rd double of the day, although it only plates Howe.

Cats with runners on 2nd and 3rd still only one out.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:56

3:59

BOOM!

That's the sound of Sawyer Carroll clubbing a 3-run dinger to put the Cats back on top, 7-5.

Sunday May 11, 2008 3:59

4:00

Wildcats have rallied to match the 4 runs the Vols scored in the bottom of the 3rd with 4 more of their own in the top of the 4th and have regained the lad.

Kentucky 7
Tennessee 5

Sunday May 11, 2008 4:00

4:09

Kentucky 8
Tennessee 5

Cowgill dances home on an RBI fielder's choice.

Two down, 1 on (1B) for the Cats, but they have scored 5 big runs in this inning.

Sunday May 11, 2008 4:09

4:12

Chris Wade flied out to end the inning.

Headed to the bottom of the 4th, with good guys on top, 8-5

Sunday May 11, 2008 4:12

4:18

3 up, 3 down for the Vols in their half.

4 complete innings -- UK 8, UT 5

Sunday May 11, 2008 4:18

4:19	[Standby] I will return in a few minutes. Please be patient and check back shortly. Thank you. Darrell

5:34

Wow.

Kentucky 18
Tennessee 5

Sunday May 11, 2008 5:34

5:35

Technical difficulties led me to a delay long enough for Kentucky to outscore Tennessee 10-0 and take a commanding 18-5 lead.

Game has moved into the top of the 8th inning with things well in hand for a Wildcat sweep of the Volunteers.

Sunday May 11, 2008 5:35

5:37

Catching everyone up to speed -- when we left the score was 8-5.

Cats scored 5 runs in the 5th and 5 runs in the 7th innings.

Keenan Wiley tripled in the 5th with an RBI and Brian Spear delivered a 2-rbi double for the big hits of the 5th inning.

Sunday May 11, 2008 5:37

5:38

In the 7th the Cats had twin 2-run dingers, one by Ryan Wilkes and the 2nd decisive blow by Chris Wade to cap the 5-run outburst.

Sunday May 11, 2008 5:38

5:39

Wildcats once again getting a stellar effort in relief, as Albert Allers came on for Greg Dombrowski in the 3rd inning and is still pitching in the bottom of the 8th.

Allers' line is an exceptional 4-2/3 inning, 2 hits, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts.

Sunday May 11, 2008 5:39

5:39

Albers, of course, rather than Allers. Trying to catch up too quickly.

Sunday May 11, 2008 5:39

5:40

And Andrew Albers.

Sunday May 11, 2008 5:40

5:53

Tyler Howe has doubled in Brian Spear to add to the Volunteer woes, and Kentucky now leads 19-5.

Sunday May 11, 2008 5:53

5:54

With two outs in the top of the 9th, and Howe on 2nd, the score--

Kentucky 19
Tennessee 5