Cats get a run in the eighth but leave bases juiced
Bulldogs strand a runner in 8th
Kentucky gets one in the seventh, pulls to within 7-3
For Georgia, Michael Demperio enters the game at second base, replacing pinch-hitter Chase Davidson. Then, the Cats call their bank shots. With one out, a Chris Wade single deflects off of a diving Demperio. Gunner Glad singles off diving third baseman Colby May. The ball caroms into left field, allowing Wade to continue to third base. Chris McClendon works the count full, then walks to load the bases. Wade scores and Glad moves to third on a sacrifice fly to right by Spencer Korus. After seven innings: Georgia 7, Kentucky 3
Georgia adds three runs with two-out rally
Cats get one in sixth to pull to within 4-2
Bulldogs strike for three runs in 6th, lead 4-1
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Rich Poythress
Georgia regains the lead in the sixth. Rich Poythress leads off with his 15th homer of the season, to the deck in right-center. That gives the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead and increases Poythress’ NCAA-leading RBI total to 58. Georgia has homered in 32 of 34 games this season. Bryce Massanari follows with a single through the right side. He’s wiped out as Colby May grounds into a fielder’s choice. Joey Lewis flies to right. Lyle Allen reaches on an infield single, thanks to May’s hustle to avoid a force at second. A double steal moves the runners to second and third. Both runners score as Miles Starr singles past diving third baseman Chris McClendon. Starr continues to second as the throw from left fielder Troy Frazier comes home. Chris Rusin, with his 100th pitch of the game, strikes out Levi Hyams. In the middle of the sixth inning: Georgia 4, Kentucky 1.
Cats go down quietly in fifth
Bulldogs left Alex McRee matches Chris Rusin’s effort in the top half of the inning, setting Kentucky down in order. Going to the sixth inning: Kentucky 1, Georgia 1.
Georgia goes down in order in the 5th
UK lefty Chris Rusin records his first 1-2-3 inning, getting a strikeout and a pair of groundouts. In the middle of the fifth: Kentucky 1, Georgia 1.
Cats strand a pair of runners in 4th
UK parlays a leadoff walk and a two-out infield single to put runners on the corners. But Chris Bisson grounds to second, putting the Cats’ stranded runners total at six. After four complete innings: Kentucky 1, Georgia 1.
Rusin shows a whole lotta glove
Georgia gets back-to-back one-out singles in the fourth inning. But UK lefty Chris Rusin extracts himself from the jam by making a spectacular play on a Miles Starr shot up the middle that seems destined for a single. Rusin makes a back-handed stab to start a 1-6-3 double play. Going to the bottom of the fourth: Kentucky 1, Georgia 1.
Wildcats tie it up but leave bases loaded
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Marcus Nidiffer
Kentucky’s half of the third starts with a Marcus Nidiffer double down the third-base line. No. 9 hitter Andy Burns draws a full-count walk. Chris Bisson goes down on a pop-bunt foul, but Chris Wade draws a four-pitch walk to load the bags with one out. Gunner Glad coaxes a full-count walk to score Nidiffer. Chris McClendon goes down on a soft liner to shortstop Levi Hyams. Spencer Korus goes down swinging, leaving the bags loaded. Through three innings: Kentucky 1, Georgia 1.
Bulldogs get third-inning single
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Chris Rusin
Top of the third, Georgia’s Rich Poythress laces a one-out single through the left side of the infield. But Chris Rusin strikes out Bryce Massanari to end the inning. Through 2 1/2 innings: Georgia 1, Kentucky 0.
Cats keep Georgia shortstop Hyams busy
Kentucky goes down 1-2-3 in the second, all on bouncing balls to shortstop Levi Hyams. The first, by Spencer Korus, was deflected to Hyams by pitcher Alex McRee. After two innings: Georgia 1, Kentucky 0.
Georgia wastes leadoff walk
Georgia wastes a leadoff walk in the second inning. Going to the bottom of the inning: Georgia 1, Kentucky 0.
Cats get leadoff single, but no more
Kentucky gets a leadoff single from Chris Bisson, but Georgia left-hander Alex McRee retires the next three batters in order. After one inning: Georgia 1, Kentucky 0.
Georgia grabs the early lead
Peter Verdin and Matt Cerione lead off with back-to-back scratch singles for Georgia. After retiring Rich Poythress — the NCAA leader in RBI — UK pitcher Chris Rusin gets Bryce Massanari to ground a potential double play ball to shortstop. However, the ball skips under Chris Wade’s glove for a run-scoring error. Kentucky first baseman Gunner Glad gloves Colby May’s soft liner, then dives into the bag to double off Massanari. After half an inning: Georgia 1, Kentucky 0.
Play ball!
Here are the lineups for the second game of Saturday’s Southeastern Conference day-night doubleheader at the University of Kentucky’s Cliff Hagan Stadium. Georgia won the opener 7-4.
Georgia – Peter Verdin, rf; Matt Cerione, cf; Rich Poythress, 1b; Bryce Massanari, dh; Colby May, 3b; Joey Lewis, c; Lyle Allen, lf; Miles Starr, 2b; Levi Hyams, ss. Pitching — LH Alex McRee (3-0, 2.08).
Kentucky – Chris Bisson, 2b; Chris Wade, ss; Gunner Glad, 1b; Chris McClendon, 3b; Spencer Korus, rf; Troy Frazier, lf; Keenan Wiley, cf; Marcus Nidiffer, c; Andy Burns, dh. Pitching — LH Chris Rusin (4-2, 3.83).
Umpires – Tony Maners, hp; Darrell Arnold, 1b; Ray Gregson, 3b.