LEXINGTON, Ky. – A three-run fourth inning by the host University of Kentucky Wildcats proved to be the difference on Tuesday afternoon, as the Wildcats topped the University of Evansville baseball team, 6-3, at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

After Evansville rallied for a run in the top-half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Lexington native Brendan Hord to cut a UK lead to 3-2, the Wildcats took advantage of some Evansville miscues and wildness to take control of the contest.

Outfielder James McCoy led off with a double, and would score when catcher Chase Stanke followed with an RBI single to center field.  An error on that play, a bunt single and a stolen base would put two men in scoring position, before shortstop Grant Smith would use a sacrifice bunt to score another run to push UK's lead to 5-2.  A walk and two hit batters later would give the Wildcats a 6-2 lead, and UE could get no closer than 6-3 the rest of the way.

"It is hard to beat an SEC team on the road when you don't play clean baseball," said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  "We are making the game harder than it needs to be right now.  It will be good to get home, as we are ready to play at home this weekend."

Hord, who started his collegiate baseball career at UK, drove in two of UE's three runs, as he opened UE's scoring with an RBI double in the second inning.  Fifth-year first baseman Eric Roberts led UE offensively by going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while fifth-year DH Chase Hug and junior shortstop Simon Scherry had two hits each. 

Third baseman Isaiah Byars and second baseman Emilien Pitre had three hits each to lead a 13-hit attack for UK (3-1).

Evansville (0-4) will open its home schedule this weekend by hosting Eastern Michigan (1-2) at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium.  The series will begin Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. and continue with day games on both Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).  All three games can be seen live on the Valley On ESPN.