Record Setting: No. 2 Kentucky Set School Record with 21st SEC Win

Ryan Waldschmidt could not be contained and neither could No. 2 Kentucky as it defeated Vanderbilt 10-5 at Kentucky Proud Park on Thursday as it pulled ever so close to the second Southeastern Conference regular season championship in school history. In the meantime, UK’s 21^st victory in league play set a new high-water mark in school history.

The Cats (38-11, 21-7) saw their magic number dwindle to one, meaning one victory in their final two games seals at least a share of the title.

Vanderbilt made the 4,384 fans hold their breath with a home run on the first pitch of the game but UK struck for three runs of its own in the first in a quintessential Wildcats inning that featured extra base hit, bunts, sacrifices, walks and the offensive pressure it has become known for in recent years.

Two innings later, Waldschmidt belted a two-out, three-run homer off the TV tower beyond centerfield to blow the game open and chase the Commodores’ starter. Nick Lopez later added a homer and birthday boy Mitchell Daly collected his 200^th career collegiate hit as part of an active evening on both sides of the ball.

On Friday, UK will honor its graduates as well as go through Senior Night ceremonies before the game.

NOTES

• Kentucky has 21 SEC wins, setting the school record that was previously set in 2006 (20).
  • This is the 83^rd season UK has played SEC competition.
• Kentucky now is 38-11 in 2024, 21-7 in Southeastern Conference play.
• Kentucky is 15-3 in night games.
• Kentucky is 5-2 in May.
• Kentucky is 10-3 in SEC home games.
• Kentucky is 12-5 vs. ranked teams and 19-6 vs. Quad 1 opponents.
• Kentucky owns the most Quad 1 wins in Division I.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his eighth season at the helm and now owns a 254-161 career record.
• Mingione needs five victories to become the second-winningest coach in school history.
• UK is 45-43 in the month of May under Coach Mingione.
• Mingione now is 6-14 vs. Florida.
• Kentucky scored three or more runs in two innings on the night.
  • It has done that 64 times this season.
• Kentucky has 100 stolen bases on the season.
• Junior INF Emilien Pitre extended his streak of games reaching base safely to 26.
• Junior OF Ryan Waldschmidt went 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, a double, a home run, a walk and a stolen base.
  • He doubled to lead off the first inning then clubbed a two-out, three-run shot off the TV tower in CF in the third.
  • He stole his 21^st bag of the season, tying Emilien Pitre for the team lead.
    • Both are tied for the second-highest single-season total in the Mingione era (2017-) behind Austin Schultz (22, 2021).
  • Senior INF Nick Lopez went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, a double, a home run and SAC fly.
    • He ripped his 19^th double of the season, which ranks as fourth-highest single-season total in the Mingione era (2017-).
    • Lopez hit a solo home run in the 8^th
  • Junior C Devin Burkes went 2-for-5 with a run, an RBI and a double.
  • Senior Mitchell Day went 2-for-2 with a run, RBI, a walk and a SAC bunt.
    • He celebrated his birthday.
    • He collected his 200^th career hit with a line single to LF.

ON DECK

Kentucky will host Vanderbilt on Friday night looking to clinch at least a share of the SEC championship on Senior Night. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. ET and it will be streamed on the SECN+ and radio coverage will be on the UK Sports Network.