Cats hang on for 10-8 win in NCAA opener
Kentucky's James McCoy watched his second-inning home run sail over the wall in right field at Kentucky Proud Park. (Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated)
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated
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@JDrumUK
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Early offense proved to be vital for Kentucky on Friday in the opening game of the NCAA Lexington Regional.
James McCoy bashed a two-run homer and smacked an RBI double to help the Wildcats build an 8-0 lead after four innings at Kentucky Proud Park. Little did anyone know at the time how pivotal those swings would be as second-seeded UK was pushed to the wire by Western Michigan in a 10-8 victory.
The Broncos scored five runs in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth to make the predominantly blue-clad crowd at KPP uneasy, then loaded the bases in the ninth inning to induce full-blown anxiety.
Kentucky reliever Robert Hogan eased their collective fear by getting WMU's Grady Mee to fly out harmlessly to right field with potential tying and go-ahead runs on base.
"We've been in these kind of games for 15 weeks," UK head coach Nick Migione said. "I thought our guys absolutely responded."
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CatsIllustrated - Cats hang on for 10-8 win in NCAA opener
McCoy homers, drives in three to power UK.
kentucky.rivals.com
