UK freshman strikes out 11 in defeat

Special to the Herald-Leader

SEC standings
East
SEC GB ALL
Georgia 14-7 — 33-11
Florida 13-8 1 31-14
Vanderbilt 10-10 31/2 27-17
South Carolina 9-12 5 27-18
Kentucky 8-13 6 23-20
Tennessee 6-15 8 20-25
West
Louisiana St. 14-7 — 33-12
Arkansas 13-7 1/2 29-12
Mississippi 13-8 1 32-12
Alabama 11-10 3 28-16
Auburn 8-13 6 25-19
Mississippi St. 6-15 8 21-24
Sunday's games
Alabama 3, Kentucky 2
Florida 9, South Carolina 5
Ole Miss 6, Georgia 1
Vanderbilt 11, Mississippi State 3
Arkansas 15, Tennessee 8
LSU 7, Auburn 6
Next game
Louisville at Kentucky
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Radio: WLAP-AM 630

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama held off a ninth-inning rally and a stellar pitching performance from Kentucky freshman Alex Meyer to beat the Cats 3-2 in a rubber match Sunday.

Meyer, a 6-foot-8 right-hander, had the most impressive outing of his young career, throwing a career-high seven innings and striking out a career-best 11. Meyer walked one batter and allowed just four hits, leaving the game — without allowing an earned run — in the eighth inning after allowing the first two hitters to reach. Meyer finished the game with three runs allowed and two runs earned.

Meyer (1-3) and Alabama starter Adam Scott (2-1) battled throughout the game, with Scott going eight-plus innings, allowing two runs, three walks and striking out three.

UK chased Scott from the game with a ninth-inning rally. Gunner Glad led off with a single to center field and freshman Braden Kapteyn ripped his second homer of the year down the left-field line, cutting the lead to 3-2. Kapteyn was also summoned in the bottom of the eighth inning to relieve Meyer with the bases loaded. The right-hander got three outs but allowed two inherited runners to score on a bases-loaded hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly.

The Crimson Tide turned to third baseman Jake Smith to close out the game, with Smith striking out two while getting the final three outs for his second career save.

UK returns home Tuesday with a matchup against in-state rival Louisville at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Wildcats beat the Cards 8-7 earlier this season in Louisville.