Timely Hits Elude No. 21 Kentucky in First SEC Defeat

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 21 Kentucky had plenty of traffic on the bases but couldn’t find the one big hit it was seeking at the right moment in a 2-1 defeat at Missouri on Saturday that evened the three-game series and was aided by several mental miscues on defense.

The Wildcats (19-4, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) will need to win on Sunday to claim its first series in Columbia since 2017.

The Cats will undoubtedly look back at the bottom of the third inning wondering what could have been. After taking the lead in the top of the inning, UK let Missouri off the hook with several defensive mistakes. First, it allowed a skied pop up to fall in the Bermuda Triangle of shallow right-centerfield. Second baseman Emilien Pitre was shifted to the third base side of second base and neither he nor first baseman Ryan Nicholson nor right fielder Nolan McCarthy could reach the ball before it found grass for a triple. After a SAC bunt scored the runner and the inability to get the batter out at first, Missouri got a two-out double that ricocheted off the angled left field wall in foul territory and shot into no man’s land, allowing the runner to score from first.

Dominic Niman was fantastic on the mound for the Cats, striking out nine in seven innings and throwing 66 of his 83 pitches for strikes. He retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced and did not allow a runner past first base after the third inning.

NOTES

• Kentucky now is 19-4 in 2024, 4-1 in Southeastern Conference play.
  • Kentucky is 13-4 in day games.
  • Kentucky is 5-1 in true road games.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his eighth season at the helm and now owns a 235-154 career record.
  • Mingione needs 23 victories to become the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 97-37 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 12-8 vs. Missouri.
• Senior LHP Dominic Niman was sensational on the mound.
  • Final line: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K
  • The nine strikeouts are a UK career high.
  • He threw 66 of his 83 pitches for strikes.
• Junior OF Nolan McCarthy went 2-for-4 with a run and double.
  • He scored UK’s only run after his third inning double over the CF’s head.

ON DECK

The Wildcats will try to win a series at Missouri on Sunday. The contest between the Cats and the Tigers will begin at Noon ET and air on the SEC Network, with radio coverage available on 98.5 FM (Lexington) and UKAthletics.com.