UK is no longer known as a power hitting team, but even if it were, longballs would've been hard to come by yesterday at Cliff Hagan Stadium where a steady 20-mph breeze was blowing directly in, making routine fly balls difficult and keeping the hard-hit shots away from the fence.
So instead of swingin' for the fences, UK banged out 10 basehits, nine of which were singles to outlast Marshall 4-1 and end a four-game losing streak.
"I told my team before this game: `Guys, just try to hit the ball hard on the ground, put the ball in play and make them handle it,'" UK head coach Keith Madison said. "I didn't think anybody was going to hit one out tonight."
UK, which hasn't had a home game in nearly two weeks, raised its overall record to 16-18 while the Thundering Herd, which lost to UK 12-7 earlier this season, fell to a dismal 8-30 on the '95 campaign.
The Cats got things going early against Marshall starting pitcher Chad Hathaway, when center fielder Chad Green led of the bottom half of the first inning with a double down the left field line.
Green moved to third on Paul Blandford's bunt single. On Blandford's single, Marshall third baseman Tim Fanning failed to field the ball cleanly.
As the ball rolled toward foul territory, Green scooted home without even drawing a throw. Blandford later scored on a single by catcher Todd Young, giving the Cats a 2-0 lead after one complete.
"Their guy just kind of ran past the ball, and I took advantage of it," said Green who finished the game 1-for-2 with two walks.
"Chad Green's play was a heads-up, instinctive play that a good athlete is going to make," Madison said. "Chad knew his own speed and was able to capitalize on their mistake. I really think that got us going."
That early burst was all the offense UK would need as three pitchers combined to two-hit the Thundering Herd. Jeff Townsend, who was making only his second career start picked up the win, running his record to 1-1 on the year.
"I just couldn't hit the side of a barn out in the bullpen," Townsend said. "I like starting."
Chad Buckman worked one inning of one-hit baseball and Aaron Acuff kept Marshall hitless while finishing up the last two innings in relief.
The only one Marshall scored came in the fifth when catcher Allen Osborne reached on an error by UK shortstop Chad Rhea. Osborne moved over to third when the proceeding batter, Keith Mastro, reached on another UK error.
Osborne eventually scored on a wild pitch by Townsend.
The Wildcats got some insurance when Young scored in the fourth on a double by Chip Rhea and in the fifth when Green was driven in first baseman Pete Pryor, who went 3-for-4.
The Cats scored all four of their runs off Hathaway (0-3), who worked eight innings and picked up the loss.
"I think the thing that really helped us was playing at home," Madison said. "We've played 27 out of 33 games on the road. So we're a little bit road weary. But this young club enjoys playing at home, and it showed tonight."
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