Wednesday Wildcat Wood 'n' Leather Update (Awww, what the F**K)
By Paul Jordan
This last week has just flat out sucked. I’m too hung over to enjoy myself for Derby, some guy named Terrence dominates news for NOT knowing something, there’s this weird rash thing on my…nevermind. And on top of all that, my favorite collegiate baseball team is dropping games to the f**king Tennessee Volunteers. That’s right, the lowdown dirty snitches 170 miles south are tainting my consciousness with bad news. The last update we left the ats as they were traveling down I-64 to play the Muddy River Birds for the season sweep. Here’s how the week went:
4/28 v #11 Louisville (L 10-9)- In an attempted series sweep of the Cardinals this year, the BatCats almost pulled it off but were upstaged by a four run bottom of the ninth inning. Closers Matt Little(UK) and Neil Holland(UL) allowed a combined 9 runs in the ninth in a game that had four lead changes. UK had scored only four runs by the ninth but ripped off a five-run top that put them in the lead started by Chris Bsson and Chad Wright. Lance Ray was another contributor to the scoreboard, going 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored. The loss wass unfortunately the second of its kind in a row.
4/30 v Tenn (W 12-8)- Coming into this series both teams were tied for ninth in the SEC and both sorely needing wins. Everyone on the team knew it and responded by blasting more homers than any other game this season, six. Taylor Black was far and away the player of the game, collecting five RBI’s with two home runs and assisting in two double plays that kept runners out of scoring position in the middle innings. Junior reliever Mike Kaczmarek came in for the save and struck out two in the bottom of the ninth while allowing one.
5/1 v Tenn (L 8-6)- The Volunteers were up 5-0 early in this game, but the Cats fought back into this game to tie it at six in the sixth before UT got two more across the plate and set the winning margin. Three players that continue to perform extended their hitting streaks to six (Chris Bisson), seven (Gunner Glad), and eight (Lance Ray). Glad posted his second round-tripper in as many games, and Chad Wright chipped in by getting two runners across the plate. Freshman pitcher Taylor Rogers gave seven innings worth of work and earned seven of the eight runs scored.
5/2 v Tenn (L 3-1)- Apparently the gas had run out on UK’s offensive machine, only scoring one run on six hits. Gunner Glad and Chris Bisson continued their hitting streaks but Bisson’s double was the only extra base hit of the game. Freshman Jordan Cooper started the second game of his career and stayed in a career high five innings, allowing two.
This season is officially going downhill fast, and the BatCats are in trouble. Fortunately for them, the marathon journey of playing 19 ranked teams in a row before this weekend is over and they can focus on closing strong. They take on South Carolina this weekend for a home stand in which we can only hope they get back on track.
On a positive note, coach Gary Henderson continues to get it done on the recruiting trail, getting a commitment from top ranked Juco Tyler Oliver. His large bat will be exactly what the middle of the lineup needs to generate some offense next year. Let’s try to win one or two more this year first
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