Kentucky strikes back, 8-1

Cousino, Maile blast home runs to even the series

Tiger Rag News Services

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky junior left-hander Jerad Grundy limited top-ranked LSU to one run in six innings Saturday, and the second-ranked Wildcats belted two home runs en route to an 8-1 victory over the Tigers in Cliff Hagan Stadium.

Kentucky improved to 34-6 overall and 12-5 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 32-8 and 12-5. The teams are tied for first place in the overall SEC standings.

The teams conclude the series at 1 p.m. ET Sunday (Noon CT). Freshman right-hander Aaron Nola will start on the mound for the Tigers, while Kentucky will counter with sophomore left-hander Corey Littrell.

Sunday’s game will not be televised, but it can be heard on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network. Live audio and stats will be available at www.LSUsports.net.

Grundy (4-1) worked six innings, allowing just one run on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts. UK reliever Alex Phillips blanked the Tigers over the final three innings, give up two hits with one strikeout.

LSU starter Ryan Eades (5-2) was charged with the loss, as he surrendered six runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings with two walks and one strikeout.

“It was just one of those games,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “Ryan wasn’t real sharp, and I thought we made some poor plays defensively that might have made a difference had we executed the right way. We also had several hard-hit balls that were lined right at somebody, but that’s the nature of baseball. We have to turn the page and look forward to the chance of winning this series tomorrow.”

LSU opened the scoring in the top of the first when centerfielder Arby Fields singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Tyler Hanover and scored on leftfielder Raph Rhymes’ double to left-center.

Kentucky responded with two runs in the bottom of the first as first baseman Luke Maile produced a sacrifice fly and rightfielder Cameron Flynn delivered an RBI single.

The Wildcats erupted for four runs in the fourth against Eades to take a 6-1 lead. Centefielder Austin Cousino launched a three-run homer, his seventh of the  year, to highlight the uprising.

UK expanded the lead to 8-1 in the seventh on a two-run homer by Maile, his 11^th dinger of the year.

LSU left-hander Brent Bonvillain pitched effectively after relieving Eades in the fourth inning, retiring the first eight batters he faced and limiting the Cats to two runs on two hits in 3.2 innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

Kentucky 8, LSU 1 (Apr 21, 2012 at Lexington, Ky.)
———————————————————————-
LSU………………… 100 000 000  -  1  8  1      (32-8, 12-5 SEC)
Kentucky………… 200 400 20X  -  8 11  1      (34-6, 12-5 SEC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: LSU - Ryan Eades; Brent Bonvillain(4); Kevin Berry(8) and Ty Ross.
Kentucky -Jerad Grundy; Alex Phillips(7) and Michael Williams.
Win-Jerad Grundy(4-1)  Loss-Ryan Eades(5-2)  T-2:32  A-2625
HR UK - Austin Cousino (7); Luke Maile (11).
J. Grundy faced 1 batter in the 7th.