Alabama Ends Kentucky Baseball's 17-Game Winning Streak

As they say, all good things must come to an end.

After leading through eight innings, Alabama scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to end Kentucky baseball’s 17-game winning streak. With the 4-3 loss, the ‘Cats fall to 5-1 in SEC play, but still managed to win its first two conference series matchups.

This game featured a pitcher’s duel between Alabama’s Grayson Hitt and Kentucky’s Zack Lee. Hitt and Lee were tremendous on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the series. Hitt pitched six innings, allowing just five hits and one earned run to a Wildcat offense that has been smoking hot as of late.

Lee, who has gotten some excellent run support in his starts this season, didn’t receive that on Sunday. However, he put the struggling offense on his back and carried them through 5.1 innings. Lee allowed just two hits and two earned runs. These two dominated the middle innings of this one.

Scrappy Start to Game

As he did on Saturday, Jackson Gray got things started for the Wildcat offense again on Sunday. Gray started the game off with a single and eventually advanced to second on a passed ball. The small ball came into play early in this one, as Jase Felker laid down a bunt to advance Gray to third. With Gray in scoring position, Devin Burkes singled through the left side, bringing in the first Wildcat run of the day. After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Tide responded in the bottom.

Zack Lee started his day off by plunking Alabama’s Shelton, putting a quick runner on base for the Tide. Will Hodo responded with a single, putting two runners on. Bama then gave the ‘Cats a taste of their own medicine, laying down a sac bunt to move runners to second and third. Jim Jarvis flew out in foul territory, but it was far enough to score Shelton from third. After the first inning, this game was knotted up at one apiece.

The ‘Cats quickly responded in the top of the second, however, as a Grant Smith sac bunt scored Nolan McCarthy from third. McCarthy reached base on a walk and advanced to third on a Patrick Herrera single, which was just Herrera’s second hit of the season. Small ball prevailed early for Nick Mingione’s squad.

G-Money to the Rescue

Lee and Hitt dominated the middle innings of this one, shutting down both offenses through the bottom of the sixth until Alabama finally plated a run to knot this game at two.

After Bama’s Jarvis led off the inning with a single, Zack Lee walked Hamiter on what was his final faced batter of the day. He was replaced by Mason Moore. On his third batter faced, Moore gave up a RBI single to Andrew Pinckney which scored Jarvis from third. Hamiter, who was on second, tested Nolan McCarthy’s arm and darted for home. McCarthy came up firing and threw Hamiter out at home thanks to a nice tag from catcher Devin Burkes.

Alabama ties the game but DO. NOT. RUN. ON. @NolanMcCarthy9!

E6 | 2-2 pic.twitter.com/SViiGwNTRE

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) March 26, 2023

This momentum carried over to the seventh inning, where the ‘Cats regained the lead. After Chase Stanke struck out to begin the inning, senior Grant Smith stepped up big. Smith homered to dead center field for his first home run of the season, giving the ‘Cats a 3-2 lead. The thing about this team is that they never give up. When they get knocked down, they get right back up swinging. There’s a reason the ‘Cats are 3-0 in extra-inning games this season.

However, this one wasn’t finished after the seventh.

Alabama Takes Late Lead and Holds On

Seth Chavez took over for Mason Moore in the bottom of the eighth and gave up the lead to the Tide. After forcing a groundout to start the inning, Chavez walked Jarvis and allowed a double to Hamiter, moving Jarvis to third. Ed Johnson then hit into a fielder’s choice, which allowed Jarvis to score from third and tie the game up at three.

After Johnson stole second, the Tide had runners in scoring position with Andrew Pinckney up to bat. Pinckney, who has been Alabama’s best offensive player this series, roped a single to left field, scoring Hamiter to give Alabama the late lead. RHP Kade Woods stayed in the game for the Tide in the ninth and forced a 1-2-3 inning to end the game.

With the loss, the ‘Cats fall to 21-3 on the season. They’ll be back in action on Tuesday when they welcome the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to Kentucky Proud Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. EST.