Timely Hitting, Excellent Pitching Help Cats Even Series

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Zach Logue’s clinical seven innings, Logan Salow’s perfect relief appearance and an opportunistic offense fueled No. 19 Kentucky’s 4-2 victory over No. 11 Ole Miss in front of 2,770 fans at Cliff Hagan Stadium on an ideal night for baseball. The Wildcats’ win evened the series and set up a rubber game on Saturday afternoon.

Junior infielder Luke Heyer hit a tape measure home run in the second inning that clipped the American flag beyond the left field fence to give the Cats (17-7, 4-1 SEC) an early lead that held up until a solo homer tied it for the Rebels in the sixth. The Cats answered right back to reclaim the lead before a second Ole Miss solo round-tripper tied the game again in the top of the seventh. 

The two homers were all Logue yielded in seven innings of work. He retired 10 in a row at one point and tied his career-high with seven strikeouts before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Salow entered with a runner on first and none out in the eighth and the Cats holding a 3-2 lead after senior infielder Connor Heady and senior outfielder Marcus Carson combined to put UK ahead with a two-out rally.

Salow, who has now five saves on the season, threw two perfect innings, striking out three. The senior left-hander has not allowed a baserunner in his last six appearances, striking out 15 in seven innings of work.

The Cats also benefitted from the return of junior Preseason All-American Evan White to the starting lineup after being out of it for nine games. White went 3-of-4, stole a pair of bases and drove in an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.

Evan White’s return to the starting lineup was a good one, as he went 3-of-4 with two steals and an RBI. Luke Heyer crushed a home run in the second inning and now counts nine extra base hits among his 11 total hits on the season. Marcus Carson’s hustle double scored Connor Heady, who reached on a two-out single, in the seventh to serve as the game-winning RBI, Carson’s second career game-winning RBI.

Zach Logue earned his team-leading fourth win of the season with another workmanlike effort, spraying six hits in seven innings and striking out a career-high-tying seven batters. The Rebels were only able to touch him up for a pair of solo home runs before he gave way to Zach Pop and Logan Salow, who closed out the game for the Cats. Salow has not allowed a baserunner in his last six appearances, striking out 15 in seven innings of work.

Bot 2nd – Heyer, the leadoff batter, struck first with a ball that was blasted over the left field wall for a solo home run. UK 1, Ole Miss 0

Top 6th – With one out in the inning, Olenek tied the game at one with a solo home run to left field for Ole Miss’ fourth hit of the game. UK 1, Ole Miss 1

Bot 6th – Pompey singled through the left side to start the inning. Shortly after, he advanced to second base after Cottam reached first on a catcher’s interference call. Heyer’s sacrifice bunt moved both runners over, which set up a sacrifice fly for Mahan that scored Pompey on the tag from third. UK 2, Ole Miss 1

Top 7th – Cockrell solo homered to left centerfield with one out in the inning, which tied the game again. UK 2, Ole Miss 2

Bot 7th – Heady kept the Cats alive in the inning with a two-out single to left field and advanced to second on a throwing error from Holston, the Ole Miss pitcher, on a failed pickoff attempt. Carson drove in Heady from second base on a double up the middle. UK 3, Ole Miss 2

Bot 8th – Becker was walked with one out before Mahan doubled down the right field line and advanced to third base on the throw. Becker was called out at home on the throw to the plate, but White followed with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Mahan. UK 4, Ole Miss 2

• The Cats are now 11-1 at home this season.

• Junior lefty Zach Logue earned his team-leading fourth win of the season.

    o Logue tied a career-high with seven strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

    o Logue now has five quality starts in as many starts this season.

    o Logue retired 10 straight hitters from the third to the sixth inning.

• Senior lefty Logan Salow earned his team-leading fifth save of the season.

    o Salow has not given up a run in six consecutive outings.

    o Salow has gone 21 consecutive batters without allowing a hit or a walk.

    o Salow has struck out 15 of those 21 batters.

• Junior 1B/OF Evan White returned to the starting lineup after missing nine games.

    o White went 3-of-4 in his return and is hitting .457 on the season.

• Junior IF Luke Heyer hit his third home run of the season.

    o Nine of Heyer’s 11 hits this season have gone for extra bases.

Kentucky will try to win its second straight SEC series on Saturday at noon. Fans can listen on the UK Sports Network via UKathletics.com and iHeart Radio, as well as on 630 AM WLAP.. The game will be aired on the SEC Network.