GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators rode a five-run fourth inning and held on to defeat the No. 27 Kentucky Wildcats, 10-7, on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,342 fans at McKethan Stadium.
Kentucky (27-11-1, 7-9-1 Southeastern Conference) fell behind early after the Gators posted one run in the first inning and seven runs in the third and fourth, highlighted by a five-run fourth. The Wildcats rallied to cut the lead to four with one run in the fourth and two in the fifth, but the UK charge was withstood thanks to a strong relief appearance from lefty David Hurst, who notched his fifth save of the season. UK’s final rally in the top of the ninth came up short, as the Wildcats plated three runs for the final margin, 10-7.
Sawyer Carroll delivered the highlight of the afternoon for UK, a two-run blast over the right field fence, his third of the season. Senior Mike Brown had an excellent day, batting 3-for-3 and scoring two runs. Carroll finished the day 2-for-5, with two RBI.
The Gators got a splendid pitching performance from starter Bryan Augenstein, who picked up the win to improve to 4-4 on the season. UK southpaw starter Andrew Albers took the loss to fall to 5-2. Albers allowed eight runs in three innings of work, walking one and hitting four batters. Aaron Lovett finished off the contest for UK, tossing five innings and allowing only four hits and two runs. Lovett’s five frames was a career high, as was his 81 pitches.
Florida (22-20, 9-8 SEC) got on the board in the first, plating one run on one hit. Shortstop Cole Figueroa singled on a high-hop to the UK shortstop, Ryan Wilkes to lead off the inning. After a passed ball on the UK catcher, Figueroa moved to second and Matt LaPorta drove him in with a hard-hit single to left field.
The Wildcats answered in the second, pushing across one run to tie the game. Brian Spear led off with a walk and scored on a Jason Kipnis sacrifice fly.
The Gators responded with a two-run rally in the third, to take a 3-1 lead. Brian Leclerc led off by getting plunked by the first pitch he saw. Jon Townsend reached on a bunt single and Albers threw the ball away, attempting to get the runner out at first. The errant throw allowed Leclerc to score and moved Townsend to third. Clayton Pisani and Jake Hicks doubled to right field, allowing Townsend to score.
UF continued to tack onto its lead in the fourth, plating five runs on three hits, one walk, and two hit by pitches. Hampton Tignor reached on a single up the middle and Albers issued three consecutive free passes, walking in the first run. Townsend singled, driving in one and Pisani grounded out, allowing another run to score. A sacrifice fly from Jake Hicks and a wicked-hop single allowed two more runs to touch home to give UF a 8-2 lead.
Carroll quickly responded with a two-run blast over the right-field fence in the fifth, to cut the Gator lead to 8-4. Augenstein issued three consecutive free passes before Keenan Wiley struck out looking, leaving the bases juiced.
In the eighth, UF tacked on two runs to extend its lead to 10-4, courtesy of back-to-back doubles from Leclerc and Townsend, and an RBI single from Pisani.
The Wildcats refused to go quietly, loading the bases with no one out against Hurst, scoring three runs in the ninth for the final margin, 10-7. Mike Brown led off with a single to left field and Carroll followed with a single up the middle. Sean Coughlin drew a walk to load the bases and Spear scored Brown with a sacrifice fly to center field. Wilkes cleared the bags with a double to right center, scoring Coughlin and Carroll.
Rubber match of the three-game set is set for Sunday at 11 a.m. EDT. Fans in Lexington can catch all the action on WLAP 630-AM, with the Voice of UK baseball, Neil Price on the call. Taking the hill for Kentucky is preseason All-American Greg Dombrowski to square off with Billy Bullock.
Post-Game Notes
Team Records and Series Notes
Kentucky falls to 27-11-1 on the season and 7-9-1 in Southeastern Conference play, while Florida improves to 22-20 and 9-8 in league play.
The Wildcats still trails the all-time series between the two schools, 122-50-1.
Kentucky and Florida resume the series Sunday at 11 a.m. EDT. The game will be carried live on WLAP 630-AM with Neil Price.
Team Game Notes
Kentucky drew seven walks off of UF starter Bryan Augenstein, setting a new career high for the junior right hander.
Individual Game Notes
Sean Coughlin made his team-best 57th consecutive start.
Brian Spear walked a career-high three times.
Sawyer Carroll extended his hit streak to a club-best six games. The junior finished the day 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Carroll hit his third career home run in the fifth, a two-run shot over the right field fence.
Aaron Lovett entered in a bases loaded, fourth-inning jam in relief of starter Andrew Albers. Lovett worked a career-high five innings, tossing a career-best 81 pitches.
Matt McKinney was hit by two pitches, bringing his total hit-by pitches on the season to nine. UK leads the SEC in hit by pitches.
