Purdue Fort Wayne
Kentucky
No. 22 Kentucky Pulls Away Late to Sweep IPFW, 9-3
3/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 14, 2010
Lexington, KY - The 22nd ranked Kentucky Wildcats used the home run again on Sunday to pull away from IPFW late to sweep the three-game series with the 'Dons, 9-3.
It was the longball that staked the 'Cats to an early 3-0 lead as right fielder Cory Farris launched a three-run shot out to right off of IPFW starter Lucas Kesterson in the first inning. It was the fourth 3-run homer of the series for Kentucky.
IPFW got one back in the second as junior first baseman A.J. Christensen drilled a 390 foot homer over the scoreboard in left center off of UK starter Alex Meyer. It was Christensen's second homer of the year.
The Mastodons got another back in the 6th inning as third baseman Shaun VanDriessche singled and scored on a wild pitch from UK reliever Sean Bouthilette.
IPFW pulled to within one in the 7th inning as center fielder Kurt Dudley led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. He moved to third on a one-out double by DH Brett Clark. It was Clark's second double of the game. Dudley would score a batter later on an infield groundout by catcher Cory Miller.
But just as IPFW got close, UK pulled away. The Wildcats got an insurance run on an RBI double by DH Braden Kapteyn and put the game out of reach on a two-run homer by catcher Marcus Nidiffer, all part of a four-run bottom of the eighth.
UK reliever Matt Little pitched 2.1 innings of relief, including setting IPFW down in order in the ninth to seal the 'Cats 13th win of the year (13-2).
Meyer moved to 3-2 on the year with the win. He tossed 5.0 innings, giving up just one run on four hits. He struck out four and walked four.
Kesterson took the loss (0-2). He gave up four earned in 5.0 innings. He struck out three and walked three.
With the loss, IPFW falls to 1-12. The Mastodons return to action on Wednesday with another non-conference road game at Toledo. IPFW will play their first 23 games of the season on the road.
~Dons~
