Pinched: Kentucky Falls on Late Pinch-Hit Home Run

LEXINGTON, Ky. – On the verge of sweeping a Southeastern Conference series for the first time since 2017 the Kentucky baseball team fell victim to a game-winning, three-run pinch hit home run in the eighth inning and dropped a 5-3 decision to Missouri on Sunday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park.
 
Despite the defeat the Wildcats won the weekend series and are 13-4 overall with one contest remaining in a season-opening 18-homestand.
 
For much of the sun-splashed afternoon the Cats looked intent on closing out a perfect weekend, taking a 3-0 lead after six innings before a solo home run pulled Missouri (8-12, 1-2) within 3-1 in the seventh. But the lead disappeared with one Cameron Swanger swing with two outs in the eighth after a single and a walk off right-hander Hunter Rigsby put two runners on base. With a left-handed batter due up UK called upon lefty Dillon Marsh before the Tigers countered with Swanger, who belted an 0-1 pitch out over the plate for his third home run of the season.
 
It was an uncharacteristic performance on the mound for the Cats, who walked six batters and struck out only six, both departures from the norm. It also was UK’s first loss this season when leading after seven innings and just the eighth in 116 opportunities during head coach Nick Mingione’s tenure.
 
The Cats did make it interesting in the ninth, as senior catcher Coltyn Kessler walked to open the inning – he reached safely in 11 of 13 plate appearances on the weekend – and saw freshman Reuben Church send a shot to the warning track. After a Chase Estep lineout to left field, Ryan Ritter singled before Austin Schultz grounded into a forceout to end the game.
 
 
GAME SCORING
Bottom 2nd – T.J. Collett homered to RF. UK 1, Missouri 0.
 
Bottom 5^th – Coltyn Kessler and Reuben Church singled. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Chase Estep hit a SAC fly to CF, scoring Kessler. Austin Schultz doubled into the LF corner, scoring Church. UK 3, Missouri 0.
 
Top 7^th – Morris homered to LF. UK 3, Missouri 1.
 
Top 8^th – Day singled and Cepicky walked. Swanger hit a pinch hit home run to LF. Missouri 4, UK 3.
 
Top 9^th – Vierling walked and Keefer singled. Day doubled to LCF, scoring Vierling. Missouri 5, UK 3.
 
 
NOTES

• UK is 13-4 overall, 2-1 in SEC play.
  • The Cats won the series, the first opening weekend series win in SEC play since 2017.
• UK is 40-22 at Kentucky Proud Park under head coach Nick Mingione.
• The UK pitching staff struck out six batters in the game, ending a streak of 30 consecutive games with seven or more strikeouts, including 24 with 10 or more.
• The UK pitching staff has struck out 190 batters and walked just 47 this season.

• Junior IF/OF Austin Schultz went 1-for-5 with a RBI double and stolen base.

  • Schultz has reached base safely in 72 of 77 career games.
  • He currently has a career-long 13-game hit streak.
  • He stole a base and now is 10-for-10 on the season.
• Senior 1B T.J. Collett went 1-for-4 with a solo home run.
  • He extended his team-best reached base safely streak to 16 games.
  • Collett’s home run was the 33^rd of his career and team-leading seventh on the season.
  • He has homered six times in the past seven games.

• Senior C Coltyn Kessler went 1-for-2 with a run and two walks.

  • Kessler reached base safely 11 of 13 times he came to the plate in the series (five hits, six walks).
  • He has reached 12 of the past 14 times to the plate overall.

 
ON DECK
The Cats return to action on Tuesday vs. Butler in the final game of its 18-game homestand. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be aired SECN+. The radio call will be on the UK Sports Network.