Garner Leads Bama Baseball Past Kentucky, 8-7
8/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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TUSCALOOSA -- Senior center fielder Travis Garner had two hits and three RBI, including a game-winning two-our double in the bottom of eighth inning to lead the No.23 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide to an 8-7 win over the Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC series opener Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Garner's double scored pinch-runner Brandon Avalos with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving Alabama its 11th come-from-behind win of the 2003 season. It was also UA's second win in its final at-bat.
Sophomore first baseman Zac Welch led off the inning with a base hit off the glove of UK first baseman Mike Breyman. Avalos, who pinch-ran for Welch, moved into scoring position on Adam Pavkovich's 20th career sacrifice bunt. Gabe Scott reached on an error by Uk third baseman Jeff Kungl, the fifth of the game by the Bats Cats.
After pinch-hitter Spencer Pennington struck out of the second out of the inning, Garner followed with the game-winning double into right center field for Alabama's sixth one-run victory of the season.
The Crimson Tide (24-10, 7-6 SEC) had taken a 7-4 lead in the sixth inning on Scott's RBI triple and two-run home run by Garner, his first of the season to snap streak of 144 homerless at-bats for the Sturgis, Miss., native.
The WIldcats (13-19-, 1-11 SEC) cut the lead to 7-5 in the seventh on a two-out double by Russ Rutherford to chase UA starter Taylor Tankersley.
UK tied the game in the eighth inning on Casey Gilvin's two-run home run to right field off Allen Ponder.
Senior right-hander Brian Reed came and struck out Brad Pickrell and Spencer Greater to keep the game tied 7-7.
Reed (2-1) added two more strikeouts in the ninth for the his second win of the season. The senior worked 1 2/3 innings and allowed one hit and struck out four UK batters.
Mark Galvan (2-2) took the loss for UK, allowing one unearned run in 1 1/3 innings on the night.
Kentucky's five errors led to four unearned runs for Alabama, winners of three straight games and four of its last five games.
Alabama led 3-0 after three innings on the strength of two RBI by designated hitter Al Hecklinksi and two Kentucky errors.
Alabama scored two unearned runs in the first inning on two UK miscues and added another run in the third on a Hecklinski's two-out double to score Nathan Meiners.
UK scored four runs in the fourth inning on singles by Caleb Brock and Gilvin and an RBI double by Greater. The damaged could have been worse as Greater's double was stuck under the fence for a ground rule double sending Gilvin back to third base. The inning ended when Breyman lined out to the Meiners at third base, who made a leaping catch of the sharply hit ball.
The two teams will continue this three-game series with a 2 p.m. game Saturday at the Joe. Junior right-hander Seth Johnson (5-0, 1.26 ERA) will pitch for Alabama while UK will counter with junior lefty Heath Castle (2-3, 2.98 ERA).
Off the field, Alabama pitcher Jeffrey Norris and his wife Faye gave birth to a 7-pound, 10-ounce baby girl on Friday night and mother and baby are resting well in Tuscaloosa. The name of the child has yet to be announced.
