Home Runs, Two-Out Scoring Haunt Kentucky In Defeat

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Freshman infielder Austin Schultz legged out an infield hit to reach base safely for the 38^th time in the last 40 games but Kentucky couldn’t overcome a barrage of home runs and two-out scoring while falling to South Carolina, 11-3, at Founders Park on Saturday afternoon.
 
Schultz, from Adams, Nebraska, has recorded a hit in 10 of the past 11 games as he continues to provide a bright spot for the club. On Saturday, he was joined by senior Ryan Johnson (two hits) and junior Elliott Curtis (two-run single) as the bulk of the Wildcats’ offense.
 
Ultimately, UK (24-26, 6-20) saw South Carolina score 10 of its 11 runs with two outs and record 11 of its 13 hits after the first two outs in an inning. The Gamecocks (26-24, 7-19) got a two-run home run from T.J. Hopkins in the third inning and then erased a 3-2 deficit with home runs from Brady Allen and Wes Clarke in the sixth.
 
With rain expected to hit Columbia later in the afternoon, Saturday’s game was moved up an hour and will begin at 11 a.m. ET. It will remain a live broadcast on the SEC Network.
 
 
SCORING
Top 1st – Ryan Johnson singled up the middle, advanced to second on Cam Hill’s SAC bunt and third on Elliott Curtis’ groundout to 2B. Coltyn Kessler singled to CF, scoring Johnson. UK 1, South Carolina 0.
 
Bottom 3^rd – Noah Campbell singled with two outs and scored on T.J. Hopkins’ homer to LF. South Carolina 2, UK 1.
 
Top 5^th – Dalton Reed singled up the middle. Alex Rodriguez reached on a fielder’s choice, Reed safe at second on throwing error. Johnson reached on a bunt single. Elliott Curtis singled to RF, scoring Reed and Rodriguez. UK 3, South Carolina 2.
 
Bottom 6^th – Brady Allen homered to LCF. Chris Cullen hit a bloop single to CF and scored on a homer to LCF by Wes Clarke. South Carolina 5, UK 3.
 
Bottom 7^th – Andrew Eyster walked and scored on Jacob Olson’s single through the infield. Allen hit a popup double to 2B that was lost in the sun, scoring Luke Berryhill and Olson. Cullen singled to LF, scoring Allen. Clarke doubled to LF, scoring Cullen from first. South Carolina 10, UK 3.
 
Bottom 8^th – Hopkins walked, Eyster singled and Berryhill walked to load the bases. Hopkins scored on a wild pitch. South Carolina 11, UK 3.
 
 
NOTES

• Kentucky has scored in 114 consecutive games and 190 of the past 191 dating to the 2016 season. The lone shutout came in a seven-inning game. The current streak is the second-longest in school history.

• Freshman INF Austin Schultz has reached base safely in 38 of the past 40 games and in 11 straight.

  • Schultz has a hit in 10 of the past 11 games.

 
ON DECK
With rain expected to hit Columbia later in the afternoon, Sunday’s game was moved up an hour and will begin at 11 a.m. ET. It will remain a live broadcast on the SEC Network.
The UK Sports Network will have the radio call.