Strieby's 2 Homers Power Wildcats Past Vandy, 11-9

[WildcatRick]

NASHVILLE - Junior Ryan Strieby slugged two home runs and drove in four to power 13th-ranked Kentucky past No. 21 Vanderbilt, 11-9, to even the series on Saturday at Hawkins Field.

Sean Coughlin added a home run for the Wildcats as UK became the first opponent in more than two years to hit three home runs in a game at the cavernous Hawkins Field. Strieby's second shot, which broke a 9-9 tie in the eighth, was a towering shot over the 30-foot wall in left field and onto the top of the old swimming pool building attached to Memorial Gymnasium.

With the win and a South Carolina loss, Kentucky (33-11, 12-8 Southeastern Conference) moved back into a first-place tie in the SEC Eastern Division. The Wildcats hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their sweep of USC last weekend. Vanderbilt (27-17, 11-9 SEC) falls one-game back in the division race.

Kentucky jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first without the aid of a hit. Antone DeJesus reached on a wild pitch after swinging through strike three. He advanced on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on a throwing error by shortstop Dominic de la Osa.

http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=4837788&nav=4CAN

[WildcatRick]

Kentucky 11, Vanderbilt 9

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Ryan Strieby homered twice, driving in four runs, to lead Kentucky to an 11-9 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Sean Coughlin added another home run as the Wildcats (33-11, 12-8 Southeastern Conference) became the first visiting team in more than two years to hit three homers in a game at Vanderbilt's Hawkins Field.

Vanderbilt (27-17, 11-9) rallied twice - with four runs in the third inning to make the score 4-1 and another five runs in the fifth to put the Commodores ahead 9-6.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/local/14462911.htm

[WildcatRick]

Box Score.........

http://www.ukathletics.com/stats/2005_06/baseball/060429.htm

[WildcatRick]

Strieby homers twice; Cats back in tie for first

Ryan Strieby homered twice, driving in four runs and leading Kentucky back into a tie for first place in the SEC East with an 11-9 win at Vanderbilt yesterday.

Sean Coughlin added another home run as the Wildcats (33-11, 12-8 Southeastern Conference) became the first visiting team in more than two years to hit three homers in a game at Vanderbilt's Hawkins Field.

South Carolina lost yesterday, and Kentucky holds the division tiebreaker because of their sweep of USC last weekend. Vanderbilt (27-17, 11-9 SEC) fell one game back in the division race.

The Commodores rallied twice -- with four runs in the third inning to make the score 4-1 and five more runs in the fifth to put the Commodores ahead 9-6.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/baseball/14464011.htm

[TrueblueCATfan]

Way to go BATCATS...............looking good

[hoosierhateruklover]

Couldcha give us a report on how the games went from a fans perspective Rick. Did you get to shake hands with the team? How where the fans? What did you think about the park?

[WildcatRick]

hoosierhateruklover wrote: Couldcha give us a report on how the games went from a fans perspective Rick. Did you get to shake hands with the team? How where the fans? What did you think about the park?
The stadium is nice looking, but very small. I do like the "green monster" in left field, especially when Strieby hit one over it and on top of Memorial Gym.:shock:Our fans were great over the weekend, we were at least even with Vandy fans number wise. Vandy fans(Vandy Lance in particular) are jerks, they relentlessly yelled obscenities at several of our players today. I have a problem with a 40 some year old man yelling those things at a 18-20 yr old kid, especially in front of small children. To be blunt, Lance needed his butt kicked today. When we went up 12-4 today they started yelling smart comments across the diamonds directed at our fans(a lot of players parents). Our SS got hurt during the game and they taunted him while he was on the ground, his family was NOT happy and another players family complained to the ushers and umpires.

Yes, I did stick around and talk to the players and coaches again today after the game. Thanks to a 4 hour rain delay I got to talk to several of the players before the game started, Steve Deaton is afine young man and his Mom is a nice lady, Craig Snipp, Brian Hastings, John Shelby, Ryan Strieby and Colin Cowgill are all very friendly and I enjoyed talking with them. Hastings Mom flew in from Missouri for theseries and I got to talk with her before the game. The Snipp family was also very nice folks.

I shook hands with almost the entire team after today's game and thanked Coach Cohen for keeping his word(promising us to win the remaining 2 games after Fridays loss), to which he laughed and thanked me for the support.

Jordan, I alsogot to talk to Larry Conley after the game Friday night. We were still in the parking lot talking when he came out to his car and he stopped and chatted with us for a bit. He talked about UK baseball and the autograph session turnout at Keeneland.

Had a great time this weekend, even if I was there 8 hours today.:shock:

[hoosierhateruklover]

Thats awesome Rick that you got to shake hands and talk with Larry Conley. Hopefully, we'll see him up here in Lexington as well! Good to hear the you got to talk to the players as well..Sounds like a fun time all around!