Heartbreak in Louisville for Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the second straight outing and third time in the last four games, Kentucky put in extra time at the ballpark but for the third time this season walked away empty handed with a heartbreaking defeat.

This time, the Wildcats took a one-run lead in extras before rival and No. 11 Louisville scored two runs in its half of the 10^th inning to hand the Cats a 4-3 defeat at Jim Patterson Stadium. The loss dropped UK to 18-12 on the season with No. 2 Texas up next.
The Cats appeared to have the recipe for success much of the night as its pitching and defense continually made big plays even as the offense searched for a breakthrough hit. Unlike last season’s 30-run slugfest in the same venue, a pitchers’ duel sat at 2-2 through regulation when catcher Raphael Pelletier threw out two speedy runners on the basepaths.

Griffin Cameron led off the 10^th with a perfectly placed bunt and advanced to second when the throw disappeared into the Louisville dugout. After a SAC bunt, Cole Hage muscled a two-strike offering over the infield for the go ahead run.

But Louisville, which already had five walk-off victories this season, led off the 10^th with a walk and jam shot single. A grounder through the left side scored the tying run before a two-strike bouncer up the middle ended the game.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 18-12 (5-7 SEC) on the season.
• UK now is 1-3 this season in and 15-10 in the Mingione era in extra-inning games.
  • This was the second straight such game and third in the last four outings.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 281-176 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 13-5 this season and 164-49 in total against non-conference opponents in Mingione’s tenure.
  • UK is 59-62 in the month of April under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione now is 4-10 vs. Louisville.
• Senior OF Shaun Montoya went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI.
  • He now has seven multi-hit games this season.
  • He had a two-out RBI single in the 6^th
• Senior C Raphael Pelletier had a double but it was his defense that stood out.
  • He threw out two runners on the basepaths, both in the ninth inning.
    • He picked off a runner at second on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt.
    • He threw out one of the nation’s better stolen base artists at third to end the inning.
  • Junior LHP Ethan Walker started on the mound and allowed one run in three innings. He struck out four and walked none.

ON DECK

The Cats open a series against No. 2 Texas on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET at Kentucky Proud Park. It will air on the SEC Network+ and radio will be carried by the UK Sports Network.