Bat Cats surrender seven-run inning in loss

Herald-Leader Staff Report

Saturday
Kentucky at Alabama
When: 5 p.m.
Radio: WLAP-AM 630
SEC standings
EAST
Conf. All
W-L W-L
Georgia 14-5 33-9
Florida 11-8 29-14
S. Carolina 9-10 27-16
Vanderbilt 8-10 25-17
Kentucky 6-13 21-20
Tennessee 5-14 19-24
WEST
Conf. All
W-L W-L
Arkansas 12-6 28-11
LSU 12-7 31-12
Mississippi 11-8 30-12
Alabama 11-8 28-14
Auburn 8-11 25-17
Miss. St. 6-13 21-22
Friday's other games
Florida 9, South Carolina 4 Vanderbilt 8, Mississippi State 6 Arkansas 9, Tennessee 3
Georgia 6 Mississippi 3LSU 7, Auburn 3

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama made up a two-run deficit by scoring seven runs in the eighth inning to take an 11-6 victory over Kentucky in the first game of a three-game series on Friday.

The struggling Cats looked primed for a much-needed victory over a Top 25 opponent before the Crimson Tide sent 10 batters to the plate in the eighth inning and turned a 6-4 deficit into an 11-4 advantage. The inning was highlighted by a grand slam from Jake Smith.

UK had fought back from 2-1 and 4-3 deficits before the disastrous eighth inning.

Chad Wright and Chris Wade both homered for the Cats. Starter James Paxton struck out 11 through seven innings.