Six-Run Inning Fuels Kentucky’s Comeback Victory
NASHVILLE – Carson Hansen continued his Babe Ruth impersonation and No. 23 Kentucky rallied from a three-run deficit and used a six-run seventh to score a series sweep with a 9-5 victory at E.S. Rose Park on Sunday afternoon.
UK moves to 4-1 on the season in front of this week’s home opener ay 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday against Evansville, which reached last season’s Super Regional round.
Hansen had his fingerprints all over the game, following up his Saturday, pinch hit grand slam with his first start in blue. He homered again on the first pitch he saw to give him two in three pitches, then hammered a two-run single off the right field wall to draw the Cats within 4-3, narrowly missing a third blast in as many at bats. He also kicked off the Cats’ winning rally with a flare single in the seventh.
The Hansen hit seemed to ignite the Cats. Will Marcy followed with a two-strike sacrifice bunt that Belmont misplayed. Luke Lawrence then sacrificed both runners over and Shaun Montoya was intentionally walked in front of Cole Hage’s two-run single.
Patrick Herrera added a single of his own to re-load the bases for Tyler Bell’s RBI single and Dylan Koontz’s two-run single. Hudson Brown then doubled down the left field line in his first collegiate plate appearance.
On the mound, veteran Evan Byers settled the game with 1.2 hitless innings and transfer Scott Rouse was terrific to earn the win.
NOTES
- Kentucky is 4-1 on the season.
- UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 266-167 career record.
- Mingione now is the second-winningest coach in school history.
- UK is 50-18 in the month of February under Coach Mingione.
- Mingione is 155-46 in non-conference games overall and 135-20 vs. non-Power Five opponents.
- Mingione now is 3-0 vs. Belmont.
- UK has outscored its opponents 35-9 on the season.
- Junior Carson Hansen went 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and a home run.
- He homered in his first two plate appearances of the season and on two of the first three pitches he saw.
- Redshirt freshman Hudson Brown doubled in his first collegiate plate appearance.
ON DECK
Kentucky returns to Lexington for a belated home opener on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET at Kentucky Proud Park. The game will be streamed on SECN+ and radio will be carried by the UK Sports Network.
