Early Runs Prove Too Much For Kentucky to Overcome

OXFORD, Miss. – Cole Zabowski connected on a two-out, three-run home run in the first inning to give No. 10 Ole Miss all the runs it would need in defeating Kentucky 8-2 in the first of a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Swayze Field on Friday night.
 
The Wildcats (18-16, 2-11 SEC) were frustrated for much of the night but found a way to extend the third-longest scoring streak in school history to 98 games with a pair of ninth inning runs. Coltyn Kessler doubled off the left field fence for his second hit of the game and came home on Jaren Shelby’s whistling double past the third baseman.
 
Coach Nick Mingione was ejected in the bottom of the second inning while arguing for batter interference after Chase Cockrell made contact with UK catcher Marshall Gei while he was trying to corral the baseball in front of the plate as the runner at first advanced to second.
 
There were bright spots for the Cats, most notably freshman infielder Austin Schultz extending his reached base safely streak to 24 games when he was hit by a pitch in the shoulder. Junior outfielder Jaren Shelby also wore a hit by pitch to extend his streak to eight straight games on base, while senior outfielder Ryan Shinn made a gorgeous, full-extension diving grab in the left-centerfield gap to rob a Rebel of a double.
 
With severe storms expected to hit the area on Saturday evening the middle game of the series has been moved up to a 2 p.m. ET start. Junior left-hander Zack Thompson will get the ball for the Wildcats as he looks to continue his outstanding season. The game will air on SEC Network Plus after originally being scheduled for national broadcast on the SEC Network.
 
 
SCORING
Bottom 1^st – Grae Kessinger singled, advanced to second on an error and third on a groundout. Thomas Dillard was intentionally walked. Cole Zabowski homered to LF. Ole Miss 3, UK 0.
 
Bottom 5^th – Anthony Servideo singled up the middle and stole second. Ryan Olenek laid down a SAC bunt to advance Servideo, who scored from second when home plate was left uncovered. Grae Kessinger homered to LCF. Ole Miss 5, UK 0.
 
Bottom 6^th – Dillard doubled off the pitcher’s glove and scored on Zabowski’s single up the middle.  Ole Miss 6, UK 0.
 
Bottom 7^th – Kessinger reached on an infield single and advanced to third on Tyler Keenan’s single to CF. Dillard bounced a single over the head of 1B, scoring Kessinger and moving Keenan to third. Ole Miss 7, UK 0.
 
Bottom 8^th – Servideo singled to CF and advanced to second on Olenek’s groundout. Kessinger singled to LF, scoring Servideo. Ole Miss 8, UK 0.
 
Top 9^th – Coltyn Kessler doubled off the LF wall and scored on Jaren Shelby’s double into the LF corner. Shelby moved to third on T.J. Collett’s single to LF and scored on Cam Hill’s groundout. Ole Miss 8, UK 2.
 
 
NOTES

• Kentucky has scored in 98 consecutive games and 174 of the past 175 dating to the 2016 season. The lone shutout came in a seven-inning game. The current streak now is the third-longest in school history.

• Freshman IF Austin Schultz extended his reached base safely streak to 24 games after being hit by a pitch.
• Sophomore C/IF Coltyn Kessler went 2-for-4 with a double and a run.
  • It was Kessler’s eighth multi-hit game of the season.

• Junior OF Jaren Shelby doubled in the ninth inning to extend his career-long hit streak to seven games.

 
 
ON DECK
With severe storms expected to hit the area on Saturday evening the middle game of the series has been moved up to a 2 p.m. ET start. The game will air on SEC Network Plus after originally being scheduled for national broadcast on the SEC Network. Audio coverage on UKathletics.com.