LEXINGTON, Ky. — No. 19 Kentucky’s series upset hopes came up short, as the Wildcats split a modified doubleheader with No. 1 Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (26-9-1, 6-8-1 Southeastern Conference) earned the dramatic come-from behind win in the regularly scheduled Sunday game, 8-6, courtesy of a Sean Coughlin game-winning two-run home run in the sixth inning. UK rallied with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a two-run lead and even the series. The game was only played seven innings due to SEC travel regulations.
The second game Sunday was the completion of Saturday’s game two, which was suspended in the top of the sixth inning due to inclement weather. The contest was resumed 20 minutes after the thrilling finish to the original Sunday game. The Wildcats resumed the contest seeking the series upset, trailing 2-1 with runners on first and third and no one out.
Vanderbilt (32-6, 9-6 SEC) rallied with three runs in the sixth before Kentucky escaped the frame. UK answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning, before allowing four unanswered in the final two innings. Kentucky got home runs from Sawyer Carroll and Anthony Ottrando in the sixth.
Kentucky will return to action on Wednesday with a make-up game with in-state rival Morehead State. The contest was originally scheduled for March 28 but was rescheduled due to weather concerns. First pitch Wednesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Coughlin Hits Game-Winning Home Run as No. 19 UK Edges No. 1 Vandy
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Sean Coughlin blasted a two-run, game-winning home run, part of a four-run sixth inning, as the No. 19 Kentucky baseball team edged the top-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores, 8-6 in the regularly scheduled Sunday contest at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The contest was the first of a modified twin-bill, mandated by the league office to only go seven innings. Saturday’s game two with No. 1 Vanderbilt was suspended due to inclement weather in the top of the sixth, with Vandy leading 2-1. The game was concluded after the completion of the regularly scheduled Sunday contest, with the Wildcats falling 9-4. The loss in the completed Saturday game gave the Commodores the series win.
The Wildcats entered the eighth inning trailing 6-4, needing the win to even the series. UK got a four-spot, including a home run from Sean Coughlin and an RBI single from Sawyer Carroll. Shortstop Ryan Wilkes led off the comeback inning with a double to the right-center field gap, scoring on the Carroll RBI single. Coughlin gave Kentucky the lead, blasting a home run to left center. The round-tripper was Coughlin’s seventh home run of the season.
Carroll and Coughlin paced the Wildcats at the plate, with Carroll finishing 2-for-2 with two RBI and a walk. Coughlin ended the contest with a 3-for-4 day, including three RBI. Freshman Keenan Wiley, making just his third career start, went 1-for-2, with two runs scored.
Kentucky right-handed freshman Duran Ferguson picked up the win, improving to 2-1 on the season. Ferguson worked 2/3 of an inning, before giving way to James Paxton and Brock Baber. Baber earned the save, his first of the season and the 10th of his career. Kentucky starter Greg Dombrowski worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs. Vandy reliever Stephen Shao took the loss, falling to 0-1 on the season.
Vanderbilt struck at its first opportunity, as leadoff man David Macias reached on a fielding error, charged to the UK third baseman. Pedro Alvarez singled to the right side and a single from Dominic de la Osa and a fielding error charged to the centerfielder allowed Macias and Alvarez to score to make it 2-0 Vandy.
The Wildcats answered in their half of the first, plating two runs to even the score. Carroll singled to left field and Coughlin followed with his first single of the game to put runners on first and third. A passed ball allowed Carroll to score and three consecutive walks issued by Christiani forced in the second run.
In the second, UK pushed across one more run to take the lead, beginning with an Antone DeJesus line-drive single to left field. DeJesus touched home after Coughlin ripped an RBI single through the right side. Coughlin’s RBI was his SEC leading 50th of the season.
Vanderbilt evened the score in the third, scoring one run. Alvarez reached on a fielders choice and after a sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position, scored on an RBI single up the middle from shortstop Ryan Flaherty.
The Wildcats regained the lead in the bottom frame of the fourth, taking a 4-3 lead. Keenan Wiley, making his third career start, led off with a single and came around to score on a Sawyer Carroll sacrifice fly.
Vanderbilt plated one run in the fifth to make it 4-4. Macias led off with a single and scored on a Flaherty scored him with an RBI single.
The Commodores tacked on two runs to its lead in the sixth, beginning with a Matt Meingasner one-out walk. Alex Feinberg doubled to score Meingasner, who one batter later scored on a Brad French RBI single.
The Wildcats took the lead in dramatic fashion, plating four runs in the sixth inning to go up 8-6. Wilkes started off the inning with his double to the right-center field gap, later scoring on the Carroll RBI single. Coughlin gave Kentucky the lead, ripping his seventh homerun of the season to left center.
UK Upset Bid Comes up Short, Falls to No. 1 Vandy 9-4
LEXINGTON, Ky. — After winning the regularly scheduled Sunday game with No. 1 Vanderbilt in dramatic fashion, the No. 19 Kentucky baseball team’s upset bid came up short, dropping the resumed Saturday contest, 9-4.
The game, which was suspended late Saturday night due to inclement weather, was begun 20 minutes after the conclusion of the regularly scheduled Sunday game, which UK won 8-6. The game was picked up where it was left off Saturday night, in the top of the sixth with no one out. The Commodores had runners on first and third, leading 2-1.
Duran Ferguson had the arm charged with shutting down the top-ranked Commodores, entering for the Saturday starter Andrew Albers, who had threw over 80 pitches yesterday. Vandy put up three runs in the frame before Ferguson was able to get UK out of the dangerous inning, giving VU a 5-1 lead with four innings left.
Kentucky responded with its own three-run rally to climb within one run of the VU lead. Antone DeJesus singled to lead off and Sawyer Carroll followed, ripping his second career home run over the right-field fence. Anthony Ottrando strolled to the box two outs later and connected on his first career home run, falling into the right-field deck, to make it 5-4 Vandy.
After both clubs got blanked in the seventh, Vandy struck with one run in the eighth. Ryan Davis singled to lead off and first baseman Brad French doubled down the left-field line to score Davis and give VU a 6-4 advantage.
With a chance to add runs to its lead with the dangerous UK lineup waiting, Vanderbilt took advantage of a fielding error on UK’s centerfielder and pushed across three runs on two hits. Dominic de la Osa reached second to lead off and shortstop Ryan Flaherty doubled to score de la Osa. Tyler Howe, the junior UK backstop stripped the catchers gear to making his first career appearance on the mound, and replace freshman southpaw James Paxton. Howe got two quick outs, including a strikeout, before Davis connected on a two-run shot over right field for the final margin.
The Wildcats jumped on the board first with a run in the first inning on Saturday. Mike Brown opened the frame with a single to second base and advanced to second on a fielding error by the Vandy second baseman. Sean Coughlin then singled to right field, and the right fielder de la Osa committed a throwing error, allowing Brown to score on the error and give the Wildcats an early 1-0 advantage.
The Commodores responded with a two runs in the top of the second. Matt Meingasner singled through the right side with two outs and Alex Feinberg drew a walk on the next at-bat. First baseman Brad French doubled to shallow center field to drive in the duo and put Vanderbilt up 2-1.
Albers took the loss for Kentucky, to fall to 5-1, working five innings and allowing the deciding four runs. Vandy starter Mike Minor picked up the win, improving to 6-0. Cody Crowell, the Vandy pitcher who finished the game for Minor, picked up the save, his first of the season.
At the plate, UK got four hits from its top four hitters in the lineup, with Carroll driving in a club-best two runs. Ottrando and Howe each contributed one hit, to account for UK’s six total base hits.
Friday’s contest was a marathon 12-inning contest that saw Vanderbilt edge out a 10-8 win to take game one of the series.
Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday with a 6:30 p.m. EDT showdown with in-state rival Morehead State. The contest, originally scheduled for March 28, was rained out.
