Kentucky Rallies But Can’t Overcome Carolina Homer Barrage

COLUMBIA, S. Car. – Kentucky was on the wrong end of a home run barrage on Friday night as South Carolina blasted four in a 10-9 series-opening victory at Founders Park to send UK to its fourth straight defeat.

UK dropped to 26-14 overall and 8-11 in the Southeastern Conference.

The Gamecocks tallied a first inning grand slam and two solo shots from Dawson Harman, along with a two-run big fly from KJ Scobey to become the third opponent in as many games to score at least 10 runs. Meanwhile, UK had one home run robbed by a leaping grab over the fence and its own grand slam attempt come up a foot short at the wall.

Still, UK nearly pulled off a three-run ninth inning rally. Trailing 10-7 after a South Carolina insurance run in the eighth inning after getting two quick outs, UK closed to within 10-8 and loaded the bases with no outs but had a pop out, RBI fielder’s choice and fly out to come up 90 feet short.

UK opened the game with a run but immediately gave it back after the first six Gamecocks of the game reached safely. The Cats responded with four in the second to tie the game at five before Carolina took the lead for good in the third.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 26-14 on the season, 8-11 in SEC play.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 319-206 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • Mingione is 121-135 in SEC games.
    • He is 50-80 in road SEC games.
  • Mingione now is 13-15 vs. South Carolina.
  • Mingione is 26-16 vs. teams from South Carolina.
• UK had four runs in the second inning, the 39^th time this season it has scored three or more in an inning.
  • It has done so 14 times in SEC play.
• IF Luke Lawrence had a hit and a walk.
  • He has 119 hits in his two-year career, moving him into a tie 49th place on the all-time chart.
  • He has reached safely in 42 of his past 43 games.
• IF Tyler Bell went 2-for-4 with three RBI, a walk, a double and a SAC fly.
  • He now has reached safely in 78 of 81 career games.
• OF Scott Campbell Jr. had a RBI double, a run and a walk.
• OF Jayce Tharnish has a hit in 15 of his past 16 games.
  • He now has 19 multi-hit games this season.
  • He went 3-for-6 with three runs, three RBI, a double and a triple.
    • The triple was his third of the season.

ON DECK

UK continues its series at South Carolina. Saturday’s game has been moved up to 1 p.m. ET. It will stream on SECN+ and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network/630 WLAP.