No. 2 Vanderbilt Rallies Past Kentucky Bullpen

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Dillon Marsh dazzled and dazed No. 2 Vanderbilt for five innings but it wasn’t enough as the Commodores rallied against the Kentucky bullpen for an 8-2 victory at Hawkins Field on Friday night.
 
The junior left-hander held the high-powered Vanderbilt offense to just two hits through five innings, striking out five and not walking anyone. His array of off-speed pitches and location kept the Commodores off balance before a leadoff single and bunt single to open the sixth ended his evening.
 
Meanwhile, for the second straight night the UK offense gave a top five 2021 Major League Baseball draft pick all he wanted. Senior first baseman T.J. Collett hammered an 0-2 fastball from Jack Leiter out to centerfield in the first inning as part of a 3-for-3 effort at the plate. Collett also sparked a rally in the fourth, singling back through the box and eventually coming around to score from second on Chase Estep’s two-out RBI single.
 
Vanderbilt tied the game with a two-out, two-run single to left field in the sixth and then added a pair of runs in the seventh and four in the eighth on a pair of home runs.
 
 
GAME SCORING
Top 1^st – T.J. Collett homered to CF. UK 1, Vanderbilt 0.
 
Top 4^th – Collett singled up the middle and John Rhodes was hit by a pitch. Chase Estep singled up the middle, scoring Collett. UK 2, Vanderbilt 0.
 
Bottom 6^th – Gonzalez opened the inning with a single and Bradfield Jr. followed with a bunt single. A wild pitch moved both runners up. Thomas was hit by a pitch. After a force out at home, Rodriguez hit  two-out single to LF, scoring Thomas and Keegan. UK 2, Vanderbilt 2.
 
Bottom 7^th – Kolwyck walked and LaNeve singled to start the inning. Both moved up on a SAC bunt. Bradfield Jr. was intentionally walked to load the bases. Thomas singled past 3B, scoring Kolwyck and LaNeve. Vanderbilt 4, UK 2.
 
Bottom 8^th – Bulger homered to CF. Rodriguez doubled, Kolwyck reached on an infield single and LaNeve homered to CF. Vanderbilt 8, UK 2.
 
NOTES

• UK is 28-22 overall, 11-18 in SEC play.
• The Cats are 6-9 on the road this season.
• The Cats are 4-15 vs. ranked teams this season and 3-10 vs. Top 10 foes.

• Senior IF Zeke Lewis

  • In 11 games since returning from injury Lewis is 15-for-37 (.405) with four multi-hit games.

• Sophomore OF John Rhodes went 1-for-3 with a double.

  • Has reached safely in 15 straight games and 23 of last 24 overall.
  • He has drawn a walk and/or been hit by a pitch in 32 games this season.
• Senior 1B T.J. Collett went 3-for-3 with two runs, a walk and a solo home run.
  • Has reached base safely in 24 of his past 26 games.
  • Collett’s home run was the 42^nd of his career and 16^th of the season.
  • Collett logged his 16^th multi-hit game of the season and 43^rd career.
  • Collett now has s160 career hits, moving him into a tie with Billy Grace (2004-07) for 28^th on the school’s all-time list.
• Junior IF/OF Austin Schultz went 1-for-4.
  • Schultz has reached base safely in 98 of 108 career games with a plate appearance.
  • He has recorded a hit in 82 of those 108 games.
  • Schultz now has 128 career hits.

 
ON DECK
Kentucky wraps the regular season at No. 2 Vanderbilt on Saturday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET on the SEC Network Plus. The radio call will be on the UK Sports Network.
 
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