Kentucky Can’t Climb All The Way Back, Drops Series Finale

No. 2 Texas jumped out to a 3-0 lead early and rebuffed several Kentucky rally attempts, defeating the Wildcats 5-4 at Kentucky Proud Park on Sunday to claim the series. UK finishes the first half of the treacherous Southeastern Conference schedule at 6-9.

For the first time in 15 conference games the Cats did not lead at some point in the game. Each time the Cats (19-14, 6-9) threatened the Longhorns answered back with a timely pitch or run. The final nail was back-to-back doubles to open the eighth inning after UK closed to within one on Devin Burkes’ two-run double in the seventh.

Still, UK staged one final charge in the ninth inning after a leadoff walk by Luke Lawrence and Tyler Bell’s third hit of the day. Patrick Herrera had a sacrifice fly to make it 5-4 before a ground ball double play ended the game and sent the Cats to their sixth defeat in league play by one or two runs.

 

NOTES

• Kentucky is 19-14 (6-9 SEC) on the season.
• This was UK’s seventh consecutive game against a Top 12 opponent.
• UK drew two HBP in the game and now have 98 on the season.
  • UK entered the weekend ranked third nationally.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 282-178 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 60-64 in the month of April under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione now is 1-2 vs. Texas.
• INF Ethan Hindle was hit by a pitch for a team-leading 17^th time this season.
• INF Kyuss Gargett went 2-for-4 with a solo home run.
  • The home run was his first of the season.
  • It was his first career multi-hit game.
• INF Tyler Bell had three hits and now has 14 multi-hit games as a true freshman.
• C Devin Burkes had a two-run double.
  • It was his 30^th career multi-RBI game.

ON DECK

The Cats host Miami University on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET at Kentucky Proud Park. It will air on the SEC Network and radio will be carried by the UK Sports Network.