Mitchell Daly’s Big Night Pushes No. 21 Kentucky to Extra-Inning Victory

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mitchell Daly drove in three runs and pitchers Trey Pooser and Johnny Hummel held Missouri to just five hits over 10 innings as No. 21 Kentucky scrambled for a hard-fought 9-4 victory in 11 innings at Taylor Stadium on Friday night.

The Wildcats (19-4, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) survived the cold, high winds and back-to-back run-scoring wild pitches to win their seventh straight overall.

Daly, who finished the game with a pair of hits and an RBI groundout, delivered a two-out, two-run single in the first inning that looked like it would hold up until Missouri’s own two-out rally in the seventh inning that was aided by a pair of run-scoring wild pitches that tied the game.

Despite spot start Trey Pooser’s electric performance on the mound that saw him retire 16 of the final 17 batters he faced. The only blemish on his night was an 0-2, two-out solo home run in the first inning. Righty Johnny Hummel threw 3.1 hitless innings with six strikeouts to keep the game tied until the decisive 11^th.

UK scored sixth in the 11^th to claim the series opener, started by Nick Lopez’s two-strike hit and Daly’s double into the gap. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Nolan McCarthy took a pitch off the thigh to force in a run and James McCoy blistered a sacrifice fly into the teeth of the wind. Reuben Church added an RBI bunt single and Devin Burkes a run-scoring groundout to cap the scoring.

NOTES

• Kentucky now is 19-3 in 2024, 4-0 in Southeastern Conference play.
  • Kentucky has won seven consecutive games.
  • Kentucky is 6-0 in night games.
  • Kentucky is 5-0 in true road games.
  • Kentucky is 4-0 in SEC play for the second straight year for the first time in school history.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his eighth season at the helm and now owns a 235-153 career record.
  • Mingione needs 23 victories to become the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 97-36 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 12-7 vs. Missouri.
• Kentucky scored seven runs in the 11th inning.
  • It is the 9^th time in the last six games UK has scored 4+ runs in an inning.
  • It is the 18^th time this season UK has scored 4+ runs in an inning.
  • It is the 192^nd time in the Mingione Era.
• UK stole three bases and now is 52-of-59 on the season.
• Senior RHP Trey Pooser earned the spot start.
  • He went 6.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
  • He recorded his 200^th career strikeout.
  • He allowed no hits and just one baserunner after the first inning.
  • He threw a UK career high 94 pitches.
• Graduate RHP Johnny Hummel earned the win out of the bullpen.
  • He struck out six in 3.1 hitless innings.
• Senior IF Mitchell Daly went 2-for-4 with a run, three RBI and a double.
  • It was his fifth multi-RBI game of the season.
  • It was his fifth multi-hit game of the season.
  • Daly had a two-run single in the first and double in the 11^th inning rally. He also has a RBI groundout.
• Junior INF Emilien Pitre went 1-for-5 with a run and a two-run double.
  • It was his 7th multi-RBI game of the season and 22nd career.
• Senior INF Nick Lopez went 2-for-6 with two runs and a double.
  • It was his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
  • He now a team-leading 10 doubles.
  • He has a nine-game hitting streak.
• Senior INF Reuben Church has a 10-game reached safely streak.

ON DECK

The Wildcats will try to win a series at Missouri on Saturday. The contest between the Cats and the Tigers will begin at 4 p.m. ET and will be streamed on the SECN+, with radio coverage available on 98.5 FM (Lexington) and UKAthletics.com.