Kentucky took a 5-0 early lead only to see the Gators come back to take a 6-5 lead before timely hitting and solid relief pitching led UK to the 11-7 win.
Carroll went 3 for 5 with a homer and Cowlin Cowgill reached base 5 of 5 times to lead the No. 17 Cats to an 11-7 victory over the 24th ranked Florida Gators last night in Lexington, KY in front of 3,036 fans.
Trailing 7-6 in the bottom of the eight the Cats got exactly what they needed from their two National Player if the Year Candidates.
With one out Keenan Wiley drove a single to centerfield, Cowgill promptly came up and hit a line drive into left field. With 2 on and 1 out Sawyer Carroll drove a 1-1 pitch into the left centerfield alley to make it 6-6 as Wiley scored.
After the Gators walked the bases loaded Ryan Wilkes' hard grounder was bobbled allowing Cowgill to score the go ahead run. Cowgill scored on a RBI grounder and Chris Wade pounded a 2 RBI single for the final margin.
Carroll finished the game 3-for-5 with his 12th home run of the season, coming as a three-run job in the first inning. Carroll's five RBI marks a career best, as the 6-foot-4, 215-pound slugger finishes the game with a staggering .467 average on the year, adding 14 doubles and 55 RBI in just 37 games this season.
Cowgill finished the game 2 for 2 with 3 runs scored. For the season he is batting .394 with 14 hrs, 10 doubles, 44 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.
Senior southpaw Andrew Albers (6-1) notched the win, tossing four excellent innings in relief of starter Chris Rusin. Albers worked four innings, allowing two hits, two runs – one earned – striking out three. Rusin worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs. Brock Baber was the only other UK reliever to see action, getting two pressure-packed outs in the fifth inning
Kentucky goes to 29-8 (8-8) in the tough Southeastern Conference.
The same two teams will meet again tonight in Lexington.
Kentucky Pounds Florida In Weekend Opener
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