For the second time in as many games the University of Kentucky baseball lost a game in the late innings, this time in extra innings against the Arkansas Razorbacks yesterday evening at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky starter Zach Brown pitched a gem in defeat. He surrendered 6 hits, two walks while retiring six Razorback batters. Brown worked himself out of a jam twice. The first instance took place in the top of the 3rd after he gave up back to back singles and runners advanced to the corners on the first out of the inning. Brown quickly ended the inning by forcing the next two Hog hitters to ground out.
The only other time Arkansas threatened was in the top of the 6th when they got on a runner on third with two outs, but again Brown forced a ground out to avert danger.
Unfortunately for Brown, UK was not able to offer any run support the entire game. Troy Marshall was the only Wildcat who could consistently get on base. He finished the game 3-for-5 (all three hits were singles) and had a stolen base in the bottom of the 10th.
However, Arkansas pitcher Dominic Taccolini deserves credit for silencing Kentucky’s bats. He pitched a remarkable ten innings, giving up only five hits, striking out ten batters and not allowing a single walk.
Taccolini’s perseverance was rewarded in the top of the 10th when teammate Chad Spanberger hit a pitch deep to right field for a home run for the game’s single deciding run.
Kentucky had a chance to draw even or take the lead in the bottom of the 10th with runners on second and third. Troy Squires stranded both on the bag and grounded out to end the game.