2011 Houston College Classic: Late Run Lifts Kentucky Over Utah 2-1

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2011 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 6, 2011) Scoring a single run in the top of the eighth inning, the Kentucky Wildcats (5-6, 0-0 SEC) broke the 1-1 tie and held on to down the Utah Utes (2-6, 0-0 MWC), 2-1 in the third game for both teams at the 2011 Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park.

Catcher Michael Williams singled to the left side on a 1-0 pitch to score Braden Kapteyn from third for the winning run.

Utah got on the board first in the bottom of the first when short stop James Brooks scored from third on a sacrifice line out to left field by first baseman C.J. Cron.

Kentucky evened it up in thee top of the fourth when Kaptlen scored his first run of the game on a Brian Adams single down the third base line.

Jordan Cooper got the win for the Wildcats, going seven complete innings giving up one earned run on three hits and striking out nine.

Trevor Gott, pitching two innings, was crediting with the save.

Josh Chapman, pitching 3.1 innings of relief got the loss.

Kentucky leaves the 2011 Houston College Classic with a 1-2 record and will face Eastern Kentucky at home on Tuesday evening.

Utah posted a 2-1 record in their first appearance at the Classic. They will now head to the west coast to play UC Davis on Thursday evening at the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament in Santa Clara, Calif.

2011 Houston College Classic: Utah Beats No. 9 Texas A&M 2-1

(Utah's C.J. Cron went 2-2 with one RBI against Texas A&M. Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved)

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2011 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 4, 2011) The Utah Utes came into the 2011 Houston College Classic with a 0-5 record to begin their 2011 season.

They left the field at Minute Maid Park after 2.5 hours and came away with their first win of the season; a 2-1 victory over No. 9 Texas A&M.

The Utes (1-5, 0-0 MWC) took the lead in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by outfielder Shaun Cooper, driving in outfielder Galvin Green.

Utah took the early lead in the top of the first when shortstop James Brooks led off the game with a double.

First baseman C.J. Cron then drove him in with an RBI single.

The Aggie came back in the fifth inning to tie the game with a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Krey Bratsen, which scored third baseman Adam Smith.

Rick Anton received the win for Utah, going seven complete innings giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out eight.

In one inning of relief, Nick Fleece was charged with the loss.

Utah will next face Baylor at the 12 noon Saturday game while the Aggies will face Rice at 7 pm.