Box Score (HTML)

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The University of Kentucky baseball team jumped to an early 5-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back Wednesday, as the ninth-ranked Wildcats downed the visiting University of Evansville Purple Aces, 15-1, at Cliff Hagan Stadium in Lexington.

 

After Evansville threatened in the top of the first inning with a pair of runners on base only to come up empty, Kentucky took advantage of two Evansville errors to score five runs and jump to a 5-0 lead.  National Player of the Week Sawyer Carroll began UK’s offensive attack with an RBI single with the bases loaded.

 

Carroll would once again ignite a UK rally in the bottom of the second inning with another RBI single to begin a six-run frame.  Carroll would lead a group of four Wildcats with multi-hit games by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

 

Evansville sophomore catcher Andy Pascoe would provide the lone offensive highlight of the day for UE, driving an RBI double to the gap in right-center field to score freshman Nate Smith in the top of the third inning and cut the UK lead to 11-1.  That would be as close as UE would come though, as the Purple Aces could only muster four base hits against UK starter James Paxton (2-0) and six Wildcat relievers on the afternoon.

 

Outfielder Collin Cowgill, first baseman Brian Spear, and reserve first baseman Marcus Nidiffer also posted multi-hit games for UK with two hits apiece.  Smith, first baseman Derek Melton, and second baseman Ty Legan joined Pascoe in the hit column for UE with a trio of singles.

 

With the victory, Kentucky extends its season-opening winning streak to 10 games.  Evansville, meanwhile, sees its season-opening losing streak extend to eight games.  The Purple Aces will go for their first win of the 2008 season on Friday, as UE will battle The Citadel in the first round of The Citadel Shoot-Out in Charleston, South Carolina.  First-pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. central time.