Kentucky starting pitcher Greg Dombrowski hurled a complete game five-hitter to lead the 11th-ranked Wildcats to a 6-1 victory over No. 17 Ole Miss on an overcast Sunday afternoon to earn the series sweep in front of 1,761 fans at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Dombrowski kept the Rebel hitters off balance all day, dominating Ole Miss to improve to 9-1 on the season. He was outstanding from start to finish, allowing just five hits and no earned runs in a complete game performance, his second of the year. With six strikeouts, he came up one shy of tying his career best. His ninth win of the season moves him into fourth place in school history and he becomes the league leader in wins.
Kentucky (37-11, 16-8 SEC) expanded its lead in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division to three games and, combined with Alabama?s loss to Arkansas, took over sole possession of the SEC lead. The Wildcats have now won 12 of their last 13 games, including nine of their last 10 league games. The win also extended UK?s home winning streak to nine, including sweeps of South Carolina and Ole Miss.
The 37 wins leave UK just three shy of its first 40-win season since 1991 and just the third in school history. With 16 league wins, the Wildcats are tied for second most in school annals with six games to go.
The game was scoreless for the first two innings before UK broke through for two runs in the bottom of the third. Shortstop Ryan Wilkes reached on a walk and scored from first base on a double by senior Shaun Lehmann. Sophomore Collin Cowgill kept up the rally, plating Lehmann with a one out single to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
Ole Miss (31-18, 13-11 SEC) had its eye on a comeback in the sixth inning, loading the bases courtesy of a pair of UK errors and a single from Justin Henry. However, Michael Bertram snared a line drive off the bat of Zach Cozart and threw to second to double off Henry to end the inning.
Bertram made his presence known at the plate in the bottom half of the frame, ripping a two-run home run over the center field wall in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 4-0. Bertram?s shot scored Sean Coughlin who reached on a single.
Cowgill got an eighth inning rally started, lacing a double to right-center field. Coughlin plated him one batter later with a monstrous blast over the scoreboard in right field to stretch UK?s lead to 6-0. The home run was Coughlin?s 11th on the season.
The rain began to fall in the ninth and the Rebels pushed across one run for the final margin. A pair of singles and an error plated Zach Cozart for Ole Miss?s only run of the game.
The Wildcats return to action Wednesday when they face off with the Belmont Bruins at 6:30 p.m. EDT at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Game Notes
Dombrowski?s ninth win of the season places him tied for fourth place in school history and the most wins by a Wildcat hurler since 1997 ? With his ninth win, he becomes the SEC leader in wins, no Kentucky pitcher has lead the league in wins since 1979 ? Dombrowski earned his seventh quality start of the season to lead the team and worked his second complete game of his career ? Kentucky has now sweep two SEC series this season ? Kentucky has won five consecutive series over ranked opponents dating back to last season ? Michael Bertram rocketed his fifth home run of the season in the sixth inning ? Collin Cowgill knocked in his 14th two-bagger of the season ? Sean Coughlin blasted his 11th home run of the season ? John Shelby?s ended his 12 game hitting streak ? Kentucky is now just four wins shy of the school record 41 wins during the 1991 campaign ? UK has now won nine consecutive home contests this season.
