Rusin pitches Cats past Alabama

Rusin throws complete game

Special to the Herald-Leader

SEC standings
East
SEC GB ALL
Georgia 14-6 — 33-10
Florida 12-8 2.0 30-14
Vanderbilt 9-10 4.5 26-17
South Carolina 9-11 5.0 27-17
Kentucky 7-13 7.0 22-20
Tennessee 6-14 8.0 20-24
West
Louisiana St. 13-7 — 32-12
Arkansas 12-7 0.5 28-12
Mississippi 12-8 1.0 31-12
Alabama 11-9 2.0 28-15
Auburn 8-12 5.0 25-18
Mississippi St. 6-14 7.0 21-23
Saturday's games
Kentucky 11, Alabama 1
Tennessee 5, Arkansas 4
LSU 7, Auburn 6
Florida 8, South Carolina 3
Ole Miss 10, Georgia 8
Vanderbilt 10, Mississippi State 4
Sunday
Kentucky at Alabama
When: 3 p.m.
Radio: WLAP-AM 630

Kentucky evened the series with a dominating 11-1 win over No. 21 Alabama on Saturday.

Senior southpaw Chris Rusin threw his third complete game of the year, striking out nine without issuing a walk. He allowed seven hits and one unearned run. The one run was a season low for the powerful Alabama offense.

Rusin (5-3) posted the 21st victory of his UK career, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list. Rusin also increased his career strikeout total to 247, good for sole possession of fourth place in UK history and just 12 strikeouts shy of Brandon Webb's 259 career total.

Rusin's performance came against a hot-hitting Alabama club that entered the game leading averaging nearly 10 runs per game and hitting .341 as a team.

"(Rusin) was outstanding," Alabama Coach Jim Wells said. "Both of their (Friday and Saturday) starters (James Paxton and Chris Rusin) have been outstanding. He was a little bit different with a breaking ball down and in. He had great command."

UK was led offensively by sophomore second baseman Chris Bisson and senior third baseman Chris McClendon. Bisson's three-run triple in the fourth inning highlighted a five-run frame and McClendon's three-run homer boosted UK to a four-run seventh inning. Bisson, McClendon, catcher Marcus Nidiffer and first baseman Gunner Glad each had multi-hit games.

Leadoff man Chad Wright was 1-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk. Since moving to the leadoff spot last Sunday against Georgia, Wright has reached base safely in 34 of 50 plate appearances.