Kentucky Baseball Stymied by No. 20 South Carolina
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky baseball team found the sledding tough on Saturday, falling 9-0 to No. 20 South Carolina at Kentucky Proud Park, as Brett Kerry fired a complete game shutout in his first start after being moved into the Gamecocks’ rotation.
By taking the first two games of the series South Carolina (30-18, 14-12 SEC) won a series in Lexington for the first time since 2009. It also was the first time UK (27-19, 11-15) had been shutout in 53 games and just the third time in 239 games under head coach Nick Mingione.
The Gamecocks got a run in the first and another in the fifth but UK starter Sean Harney, who also was converted from a closer role to the rotation, struck out seven and allowed just two hits to keep the Cats within striking distance. That changed in the fifth when Andrew Eyster leaned over the plate and lined a two-strike pitch on the outside corner over the right field wall for a grand slam and an insurmountable 6-0 advantage.
The Cats struggled to get anything going against Kerry, although senior T.J. Collett singled to make it 21 of the past 22 games reaching base safely and sophomore John Rhodes later logged a sun-aided double that extended his streak to 11 straight games reaching base and 19 of the past 20 overall.
The two SEC East rivals will wrap their series on Sunday afternoon with UK desperately needing a victory to keep it’s NCAA Tournament hopes alive. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network Plus.
GAME SCORING
Top 1st – Allen walked and Eyster singled. Both advanced on double steal. Allen scored on Sightler groundout. South Carolina 1, UK 0.
Top 5th – Eyster and Clarke walked. Sightler was hit by a pitch. Mendham grounded out to 2B, Eyster scored, Clarke and Sightler advanced. South Carolina 2, UK 0.
Top 6th – Milone and Burgess singled. Allen walked. Eyster hit a grand slam to RF. South Carolina 6, UK 0.
Top 8th – Burgess and Callil walked. Burgess moved to third on a flyout and scored on a Eyster single. South Carolina 7, UK 0.
Top 9th – Satterfield was hit by a pitch and scored on Wimmer’s home run to LCF. South Carolina 9, UK 0.
NOTES
- UK is 27-19 overall, 11-15 in SEC play.
- The Cats are 21-12 at Kentucky Proud Park this season.
- The Cats are 4-12 vs. ranked teams.
- The Cats are 68-of-73 on stolen base attempts this season.
- UK’s .932 success rate is the highest of any team with 50 or more stolen bases.
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Senior 1B T.J. Collett went 1-for-4.
- Collett has reached base safely in 21 of his past 22 games.
- Collett now has 155 career hits, 29th on the school’s all-time list.
- Sophomore OF John Rhodes went 1-for-4 with a double.
- Has reached safely in 11 straight games and 19 of last 20 overall.
ON DECK
Kentucky hosts No. 20 South Carolina on Sunday at Kentucky Proud Park. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET on the SEC Network Plus. The radio call will be on the UK Sports Network.
