Kentucky Drops 5-4 Decision to Missouri in Sloppy Outing

Lexington, Ky. – Kentucky dropped its third straight Southeastern Conference outing in a 5-4 loss to Missouri where the Wildcats made three errors, misplayed several balls and left 13 runners on base while going 3-for-18 with runners on base.

Kentucky now is 22-7 overall and 5-5 in the Southeastern Conference.

Missouri took full advantage of UK’s lack of sharpness, scoring three runs in the third inning after a foul pop up with two outs was unable to be caught. The misplay led to a pair of two-strike hits as the Tigers strung together several hits, including a soft liner off an infielder’s glove. The Tigers added a two-out unearned run the next inning.

UK fought back to tie the game in the sixth but twice left the bases loaded and in the eighth were unable to get the go-ahead run in despite having runners on second and third with only one out and two of its most productive hitters coming to the plate.

Missouri produced the game winner with a double and single past first base with one out in the ninth.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 22-7 on the season, 5-5 in SEC play.
  • UK is 140-69 since the beginning of 2023.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 315-199 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • Mingione is 119-129 in SEC games.
  • Mingione now is 13-9 vs. Missouri.
  • Mingione is 14-9 vs. teams from the state of Missouri.
• The Cats stole five bases.
• UK went 3-for-18 with runners on base.
• IF Luke Lawrence has reached safely in 34 consecutive games.
• OF Jayce Tharnish went 2-for-5 with two RBI and 2 SB.
  • Tharnish now is 21-of-22 on the season in stolen bases.
    • That ties for the 4^th most in the Mingione Era in a season.
  • OF Carson Hansen went 2-for-4 with 2 R, an RBI and SB.
  • RHP Jaxon Jelkin: 7 IP, 8 H, 4 R (3 ER), BB, 10 K

ON DECK

UK hosts Missouri on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The game is on SECN+ and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network/630 WLAP.