No Midas Touch: Kentucky Falls late to Western Kentucky

For a night, Kentucky couldn’t find its magic.
 
Western Kentucky scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning on a flare to left field and gave UK its first loss of the season, 7-5, on Tuesday. The Wildcats now are 7-1 with Evansville coming to Kentucky Proud Park on Wednesday.
 
UK was just 1-of-14 with runners in scoring position – WKU was 5 of 10 – and left 13 runners on base, leaving a multitude of opportunities on the bases it could not overcome. A last-gasp comeback effort in the ninth crumbled when Kirk Liebert’s line drive found glove.
 
Both teams took advantage of the warm and windy conditions early, as the Hilltoppers hit a pair of home runs and UK’s Chase Estep hit his second blast in as many games. Things settled down after that but a walk, a single and a wild pitch put two on for Ty Batusich’s game-winning hit.
 
 
NOTES

• Kentucky now is 86-12 vs. non-conference non- Power Five opponents during coach Nick Mingione’s tenure.
• The UK pitchers have struck out 100 in eight games.
• Jacob Plastiak has a hit in every game this season.

• Senior RHP Daniel Harper made is 78^th career appearance, moving into eight place alone on the UK career list.
• Sophomore RHP Seth Logue pitched six innings, striking out nine.
  • He set new career highs in both categories.
  • He turned in the first start of six innings by a UK pitcher this season.
• Senior IF Jacob Plastiak went 2-for-5 with a run.
  • He is currently riding a career-long eight-game hit and 11-game reached safely streak.
  • He has five multi-hit games this season.

• Junior IF Chase Estep went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.

  • He has homered in consecutive games.

 
 
ON DECK
Kentucky hosts Evansville on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on SECN+. The radio call will be on the UK Sports Network (98.5 FM).