College of Charleston
Kentucky
Baseball Wins Season Opener 11-6 Over Kentucky
2/19/2011 2:05:00 AM | Baseball
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Redshirt-junior 1B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla.) tied a career-high with six RBI as #20 College of Charleston defeated the University of Kentucky 11-6 in the 2011 season opener for both programs at the CofC Invitational at Patriots Point. Leeds, the 2010 Southern Conference Player of the Year, went 2-for-4 and scored twice.
The Cougars jumped on the scoreboard first, plating a single run in the bottom of the opening frame on a RBI single down the left-field line by redshirt-junior LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla.). Senior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.), the 2011 SoCon Preseason Player of the Year, led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a balk, before scoring on Rodriguez's single.
Kentucky took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third on a three-run homer to right by Braden Kapteyn, but Charleston roared back with four runs in the bottom of the stanza to retake a 5-3 advantage. After leadoff singles by redshirt-junior Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J.) and junior Marty Gantt (North Augusta, S.C.), Leeds blasted the first pitch he saw over the fence in left-center for a three-run homer. Rodriguez followed with a solo round-tripper to the same spot in left-center to give the Cougars a two-run lead.
The Wildcats fought back to knot the score at 5-5 in the top of the sixth. Back-to-back walks by Kapteyn and Luke Maile led off the inning and after a sacrifice bunt by Thomas McCarthy, Michael Williams ripped a 2-0 pitch down the left-field line for a two-run double.
CofC responded again with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull ahead by a 10-5 score. Senior Jesse Mesa (Miramar, Fla.) led off the inning with a single to right, stole second and advanced to third on a double by Rakar. Kral walked and Mesa scored on a wild pitch, moving Rakar to third. A sacrifice bunt by Gantt moved the runners over and Leeds plated Kral and Rakar with a RBI single to left. Rodriguez doubled down the left-field line and putting Leeds at third. A RBI groundout by junior Robert Harding (Columbia, S.C.) and a RBI double by senior Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C.) completed the inning for the Cougars.
Leeds completed his six-RBI effort with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh, plating Mesa with the bases loaded and one out. Kentucky completed the scoring with a single run in the eighth on a bases-loaded fielder's choice by Lucas Witt that scored Maile.
Sophomore RHP Dre Watts (Laurens, S.C.) picked up the win in relief of junior RHP David Peterson (Walnut Creek, Calif.). Watts tossed three innings, allowing two runs on one hit with three strikeouts. Peterson allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts in four innings of work. Corey Littrell took the loss for Kentucky, allowing five runs on five hits in 2.1 innings.
The Cougars return to action tomorrow afternoon against Miami (OH) at 1 p.m. in the CofC Invitational.
