COLUMBIA, S.C. ? Kentucky rallied from a four-run deficit late to force a tie, only to allow a two-run eighth and drop a heartbreaking 9-7 decision to No. 23 South Carolina on Friday night at Sarge Frye Field.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 29-25 overall and 7-20 in the Southeastern Conference. It was Kentucky?s the 13th consecutive series-opening loss in league play. South Carolina, which has played in three straight College World Series, improved to 35-19 on the year and 14-14 in the conference. The Gamecocks clinched a spot in next week?s SEC Tournament at Birmingham, Ala., and are currently holding down the six seed.
Tied 7-7 heading into the bottom of the eighth, South Carolina led off with back-to-back singles to begin the rally. Neither ball was a solid hit as the first grazed off the top of a leaping Ryan Wilkes glove at shortstop and the second was a high chopper over the head of Michael Bertram, who was playing even with the bag at first.
The second hit chased Craig Snipp who had entered the game with Kentucky down 4-1 in the third. He kept Kentucky in the game with five innings of work, but took the hard-luck loss to fall to 4-5.
Brock Baber entered for Snipp with runners on the corners. He gave up a fielder?s choice that scored a run, which became the first of 14 inherited runners to score on Baber. He responded by hitting back-to-back batters to load the bases. After plunking the second batter, Baber was warned by home plate umpire Ken Couch, which drew the wrath of Wildcat skipper John Cohen.
After a lengthy discussion between home plate and the UK dugout, Cohen was ejected from the game. It was his second ejection of the year, the other coming April 20 at Cincinnati. A sacrifice fly followed from Cory Vanderhook to make it 9-7 going to the ninth.
Kentucky put runners on first and second with one out in the final frame, but Collin Cowgill and Wilkes struck out to end the game.
South Carolina took an early 4-1 lead with four two-out runs in the second. Neil Gielser launched a three-run home run to right field for the first three runs before Davy Gregg singled, stole second and scored on Steven Tolleson?s RBI single.
The Gamecocks added a run in the third on Brendan Wynn?s RBI double before Kentucky began to chip away at the lead.
In the fourth, Kentucky scored a pair of unearned runs to cut the lead in half. J.P. Lowen laced the first of his three singles to lead off and Shaun Lehmann reached on an error. After a walk loaded the bases, Lowen scored on a fielder?s choice and Lehmann came home on an Antone DeJesus sacrifice fly.
Billy Grace made it 5-4 in the fifth. He singled and scored when Bertram reached on a bunt single and the catcher?s throw to first ended up way down the line in right field.
South Carolina pushed the lead back to three, 7-4, with single runs in the fifth and sixth before Kentucky came back once again.
Grace belted a solo home run in the seventh, which proved to be the last batter for Gamecock starter Aaron Rawl, who worked 6 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on nine hits. He fanned six and walked just two.
Lehmann manufactured a run in the eighth after a leadoff double. He advanced on back-to-back foul outs to the outfield to score. With two outs, DeJesus, J.B. Schmidt and Grace strung together consecutive singles to send the game to the bottom of the eighth knotted, 7-7.
Jason Fletcher was tagged for both runs in the eighth before Brent Marsh entered to get the final four outs. Marsh earned the win to improve to 3-2.
Kentucky looks to rebound on Saturday as it sends Aaron Tennyson (6-1, 4.26) to the hill against Zac McCamie (8-3, 2.94). The Wildcats are a perfect 6-0 in conference play when Tennyson starts.
