(BB) UC Santa Barbara 10 Kentucky 3

[swamprat]

Cats lose the 1st game of the weekend series.

 

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – No. 16 UC Santa Barbara scored seven runs in the first three innings to post a 10-3 win over Kentucky in the opener of the three-game series, on a sunny Friday afternoon at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

 

Kentucky (2-2) fell behind early in the first three innings, as the Gauchos plated two runs in the first, one in the second and four in the bottom of the third inning, later adding a three-run fifth.

 

UK was led offensively by a three-hit game for catcher Zach Arnold, with Ka’ai Tom and Kyle Barrett each charting two hits. UK also got hits from Thomas Bernal, Evan White and Riley Mahan.

 

UK starter Kyle Cody (0-1) suffered the loss in his second start of the year. Cody worked three innings, allowing six hits and seven runs, walking one and striking out three. Matt Snyder, Ryne Combs and Brad Schaenzer worked in relief. Schaenzer worked three hitless innings to save the UK bullpen.

 

UC Santa Barbara (5-0) starter Shane Bieber turned in a strong start to improve to 2-0. Bieber worked eight innings, allowing nine hits and two runs. Alex Garcia worked the ninth inning.

[BaseballIsLife]

The struggle begins. UK lost too much from last year and the players behind them just aren't up to par.... at least just not yet. A success this season will be scraping out enough wins to make the SEC Tournament.