No. 15 Kentucky Drops See-Saw Series Finale in Oxford

Oxford, Miss. – No. 19 Ole Miss struck last in a game that went back-and-forth for nearly four hours as No. 15 Kentucky dropped a 12-9 decision in the series finale at Swayze Field on a warm, windy Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats now are 19-4 overall and 4-2 in Southeastern Conference play.

UK took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and were cruising through three before UK starter Nate Harris lost contact with the strike zone and loaded the bases in front of Daniel Pacella’s grand slam.

The Cats answered right back with a six-run fifth inning that featured six hits, including a 403-foot Carson Hansen grand slam. UK held that lead until the seventh when Tristan Bissetta opened the bottom of the frame with a solo shot, his third of the series. After a single, Colin Reuter got a blast into the wind and saw it carry out for a two-run home run and 9-8 lead.

However, the Cats would not go quietly and saw Tyler Bell lead off the eighth inning with a game-tying solo blast. It wouldn’t last though, as Ole Miss loaded the bases and saw Will Furniss slash a two-run single to left field to claim the lead for good.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 19-4 on the season, 4-2 in SEC play.
  • UK is 137-66 since the beginning of 2023.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 312-196 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 123-47 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 118-126 in SEC games.
    • Mingione is 48-72 in road SEC games.
  • Mingione now is 10-7 vs. Ole Miss.
  • Mingione is 16-17 vs. teams from Mississippi.
• There were six ties or lead changes.
• IF Hudson Brown went 2-for-5, R, 2 RBI, 2B.
• IF Luke Lawrence had two hits.
  • He has reached safely in 28 consecutive games.
  • He now has 10 multi-hit games this season and 31 in his UK career.
• OF Carson Hansen blasted a grand slam.
• IF Tyler Bell hit his second home run.
  • He threw just 44 pitches in the first five innings.

ON DECK

UK returns home to face Murray State on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game is on SECN+ and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network.