Kentucky Bats Silenced as South Carolina Evens Series

COLUMBIA, S.C. – One day after allowing 19 runs and 20 hits to Kentucky, a trio of South Carolina pitchers combined to hold the Wildcats to two hits in a 5-1 Gamecock win on a warm and humid Saturday afternoon at Founders Park.

Entering the weekend as the top pitching staff in the Southeastern Conference, South Carolina starter Adam Hill and reliever Josh Reagan limited No. 6 UK to one hit in the first seven innings — a home run by third baseman Tyler Marshall in the fourth inning, his first homer of the season. Hill was the winning pitcher, moving his record to 3-3, and Tyler Johnson got the final five outs for his seventh save of the season. Leftfielder Carlos Cortes led the USC offense with a two-run homer and an RBI double. No. 21 South Carolina improved to 25-16 on the season, 10-10 in the SEC.

Kentucky starter Zach Logue (5-4) went 2.2 innings, giving up four runs, two earned. Zach Pop, Colton Cleary, Chris Machamer, Alec Maley and Austin Keen combined to pitch 5.1 innings in relief, allowing only an unearned run. UK committed three errors during the game, leading to three unearned runs. The Wildcats are now 30-14 overall, remaining in first place in the SEC Eastern Division with a 13-7 league mark.

South Carolina jumped out with a run in the second inning and tallied three more in the third, including the homer by Cortes.  After Marshall’s long ball in the fourth, UK was unable to mount another threat until the eighth inning. First baseman Evan White led off with a walk and pinch hitter Luke Heyer singled with one out. South Carolina brought in the closer, Johnson. On his first pitch, UK second baseman Riley Mahan ripped a shot toward left field but Gamecock shortstop Madison Stokes made a diving stop and turned it into a double play to end the inning. 

South Carolina’s win evened the series after UK won Friday’s game, 19-1. The teams finish the series Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Sophomore right-hander Justin Lewis (6-2, 2.97 ERA) is slated to be the starting pitcher for Kentucky while South Carolina’s starter has not been announced.

Bottom 2nd – With one out, Riley Hogan singled. He advanced to third base when Ross Grosvenor reached on an error and scored on Madison Stokes’ single. SC 1, UK 0.

Bottom 3rd – Justin Row opened the inning by reaching on an error and Carlos Cortes followed with a home run to right field.  Jonah Bride walked, went to third on Jacob Olson’s single, and scored on Grosvenor’s single.  SC 4, UK 0.

Top 4th – Tyler Marshall homered to right-center field. SC 4, UK 1.

Bottom 6th – T.J.  Hopkins opened the inning by reaching on an error. He was sacrificed to second and scored on a double by Cortes. SC 5, UK 1.

• Kentucky has gone 63 games without being shutout, the ninth-longest such streak in school history.

• Junior IF Tyler Marshall went 1-for-4 with a solo home run.

     o The home run into the South Carolina bullpen was Marshall’s first of the season and second career blast.

• Senior OF Marcus Carson was hit by a pitch for the 15th time this season.

     o Carson now ranks 10th on the all-time UK single-season list, tying him with current teammate Storm Wilson (2014).

• Junior 1B Evan White had his 10-game hitting streak snapped but extended his streak of games reaching base safely to 11.

• Sophomore OF Tristan Pompey had his career-long 14-game hitting streak snapped.

Kentucky will try to win the series at No. 21 South Carolina on Sunday afternoon at Founder Park. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.. Fans can listen on the UK Sports Network via UKathletics.com and iHeart Radio, as well as on 630 AM WLAP, and watch on SECN+.