Missed Opportunities Contribute to Shutout Defeat

Baton Rouge, La. – Inconsistent command from pitchers and lack of timely hitting doomed No. 18 Kentucky as it dropped a 7-0 decision to LSU on Saturday afternoon that evened the series at a game apiece.

Kentucky now is 21-5 overall and 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference.

The Tigers scored more than half their runs on free passes and took an insurmountable lead in the fourth inning when a pair of walks turned into a three-run home run and a five-run advantage. One night after walking just one batter, UK pitchers issued nine bases on balls in the game.

While LSU turned its opportunities into runs, the Wildcats weren’t able to find the big hit. UK left runners in scoring position in five of the first six innings when the game remained in reach and finished 1-of-11 with RISP and 4-of-19 with runners on base for the day.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 21-5 on the season, 5-3 in SEC play.
  • UK is 139-67 since the beginning of 2023.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 314-197 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • Mingione is 119-127 in SEC games.
    • Mingione is 49-73 in road SEC games.
  • UK is 125-48 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione now is 5-12 vs. LSU.
  • Mingione is 6-12 vs. teams from the state of Louisiana.
• This is UK’s first trip to Baton Rouge since the 2023 Super Regional.
• The Cats left nine runners on base, were 4-19 with runners on base and 1-11 with RISP.
• IF Luke Lawrence had two hits.
  • He has reached safely in 31 consecutive games.
  • He now has 11 multi-hit games this season and 32 for his career.
• RHP Ira Austin IV returned to his home state (Metairie, La. Is an hour from Baton Rouge) and recorded an out on his only pitch.

ON DECK

UK faces LSU on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The game is on SECN+ and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network.