Graeter's 10th-Inning Run Scoring Single Gives Kentucky 6-5 Series Win

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Spencer Graeter's 10th-inning single to right field that scored Joe Naill to give Kentucky a 6-5 win and series victory over Vanderbilt, Sunday, May 11 at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

Kentucky wins it's third Southeastern Conference series in the past four weeks to improve to 22-29 overall and 8-18 in the league. Vanderbilt drops to 24-25 overall and 11-16 in the SEC.

Both teams battled blustery conditions that included southwest winds at 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 31 mph. Vanderbilt committed three errors while Kentucky had two miscues.

Vanderbilt reliever Jensen Lewis (3-6) retired the first two batters he faced in the 10th inning before Naill hit a pop up behind second base that Zach Simpson dropped for an error to prolong the inning. Lewis was replaced with VU reliever Blake Owen who faced Graeter. The UK second baseman hit a blooper to right field that was knocked down by the wind and dropped fair inside the right-field line for the game-winner.

Kentucky reliever Scott Wade (3-6) earned the win. He pitched the final three and a third innings, allowing only two hits and a walk. Lewis took the loss despite striking out five and allowing only three hits and a walk in four innings of work.

Kentucky tied the game at 5-5 when Russ Rutherford hit a two-run home run to left field that also scored Brad Pickrell. It marked Rutherford's second long ball of the year.

Vanderbilt took a 5-3 lead with five runs in the top of the sixth inning. Worth Scott pulled the Commodores even when he hit a bases-loaded one-out double to left-center field to chase UK starter Seth Stanley. Ryan Klosterman drew a two-out walk to put runners on first and third base. Klosterman then stole second base. On the play, Kentucky catcher Caleb Brock's throw went into center field, allowing Scott to score from third base and Klosterman to come around and score from second base.

Kentucky grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the second inning. Brock singled to left and scored on a two-out single through the middle of the infield by Russ Rutherford to give UK a 1-0 lead. Naill followed with a single through the right side of infield to put runners on first and second. Graeter followed with a fly ball to center field that VU's Matt Zeller misplayed, allowing Rutherford and Naill to score on the play.

Vanderbilt plays host to Middle Tennessee Tuesday at 7 p.m. It marks the Commodores' final non-conference game of the season. VU concludes the regular season when it invites Tennessee to Hawkins Field for a three-game SEC series beginning Friday at 7 p.m. Saturday's game starts at 6 p.m. and will be televised by Comcast Sports Southeast. The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.