Kentucky Stages Furious Rally Before Falling in Extra Innings
Kentucky has made its reputation in recent seasons by being hyper-aggressive, particularly on the basepaths. On Saturday, for one of the few times, the style of play didn’t work out.
Down to its final strike in the ninth inning, Hudson Brown laced a game-tying double to cap a furious four-run ninth inning rally but Ike Irish’s solo home run, his second in a five-hit day, gave No. 16 Auburn a second consecutive 8-7 victory at Kentucky Proud Park, this time in 11 innings. Kyuss Gargett, who reached base on catcher’s interference to open the 11th, was tagged out attempting to steal home for the final out of the game.
The defeat was UK’s third one-run loss in five days and dropped the Cats to 14-7 overall, 1-4 in the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky has not been swept in its last 14 conference series but will need a win on Sunday to keep that streak alive.
Sophomore OF Griffin Cameron notched a career-high three hits and freshman IF Tyler Bell hit his fourth home run to lead the Cats.
NOTES
- Kentucky is 14-7 (1-4 SEC) on the season.
- UK has been hit by a pitch 42 times in the last 12 games.
- UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 277-171 career record.
- Mingione now is the second-winningest coach in school history.
- UK is 109-42 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
- Mingione now is 11-5 vs. Auburn.
- Senior OF Shaun Montoya went 1-for-4 with a run, two RBI, a double and a HBP.
- RS Freshman IF Hudson Brown went 1-for-5 with a two-strike, two-out game-tying double to cap a four-run rally in the ninth inning.
- Sophomore OF Griffin Cameron went 3-for-4 with two runs and a walk.
- The three hits are a career high.
ON DECK
Kentucky hosts No. 16 Auburn on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. It will be on the SEC Network+ and radio will be carried by the UK Sports Network.
