Brutal ninth inning sinks Kentucky in 12-5 loss to Wofford

A brutal ninth inning, in which the reliable Wildcat pitching staff allowed eight runs, sunk Kentucky’s 10-game win streak as the ‘Cats fell to Wofford 12-5.

Kentucky and Wofford were tied at four heading into the top of the ninth inning, but the Terriers exploded for eight runs on two-run singles from David Wiley and Andrew Mannelly, an error by Kentucky first baseman Dylan Koontz, and a two-run double from Ryan Wynn.

Wiley had an unreal day at Kentucky Proud Park, as he finished with four RBIs and robbed Tyler Bell of an extra-base hit with a stellar diving grab in the seventh inning.

Kentucky left-hander Ben Cleaver made his fourth start of the season, but was not quite as dominant as he had been over his last two. In 4 1/3 innings of work, Cleaver gave up five hits and three earned runs with five strikeouts. Senior left-handers Evan Byers and Jackson Nove however were solid in relief, as the duo held Wofford scoreless (and hitless) until the ninth inning.

The ‘Cats fall to 11-2 on the season, but will look to secure the series victory on. Sunday.

Players of the Game:

• SS Tyler Bell: Kentucky’s freshman phenom notched his third home run of the season, a three-run shot in the third inning.
• CF Shaun Montoya: Montoya, who has shifted to Kentucky’s leadoff batter this series, went 4-4 with four singles on Saturday.
• LHP Jackson Nove: Nove was excellent in relief once again, allowing one hit with two strikeouts in two innings. His lone allowed hit was a bunt single that the Wofford runner just beat out at first.

Cleaver looks human for first time in two games

Entering Saturday’s game, Kentucky sophomore left-hander Ben Cleaver had retired 40 of his last 43 faced batters over his last two starts. Against Wofford however, he wasn’t quite as dominant.

Although he struck out four of his first seven batters faced, he ran into his first real trouble since his first start of the season in the top of the third inning. After forcing a quick pop-up, Cleaver walked Wofford third baseman James Layman, allowed a single to shortstop Ryan Wynn, and plunked second baseman Harrison Campi. This loaded the bases for right fielder David Wiley, who entered the game with a .318 batting average.

Wiley made Cleaver pay for loading the bases, as he ripped an RBI-single over the head of Kentucky second baseman Luke Lawrence to drive in Wofford’s first run of the game. The Terriers then employed some Nick Mingione-esque baseball, as DH Adam Haber layed down a bunt to score the runner from third. Haber beat out the throw, making it a 2-0 Wofford lead.

Tyler Bell longball gives Kentucky its first lead

Wofford’s 2-0 lead didn’t last long however, as the ‘Cats bounced back with three runs in the latter half of the third inning.

Shaun Montoya, who has been moved to Kentucky’s lead-off batter this series, and Cole Hage both singled to put runners on first and second for the freshman phenom Tyler Bell. Bell, who lost his team-lead for RBI to Dylan Koontz on Friday, regained the lead here.

Bell ripped a 375-foot three-run home run to deep right field, giving Kentucky its first lead of the game. He now has three home runs on the season, tied for second most on the team with Carson Hansen.

E3 | UK 3, WOF 2@BellTyler28 sends a baseball into orbit after @Colehage_33 executes perfectly on a two-out hit and run.

📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/guOirtZ5uE

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) March 8, 2025

His three longballs are also tied for second most among SEC freshman, alongside Texas’ Adrian Rodriguez, Florida’s Brendan Lawson and Auburn’s Christopher Rembert and D’Marion Terrell. Tennessee’s Levi Clark leads the class with five.

Terriers regain lead in fifth inning

Ben Cleaver‘s day came to an end with one out in the fifth inning after allowing a single and a double to open the frame. After he was replaced by right-hander Robert Hogan, Wofford would tie the game in the top of the fifth on an RBI-groundout from right fielder David Wiley. After being one of Kentucky’s most reliable pitchers down the stretch last season, Hogan has struggled to open the 2025 season.

Hogan remained in the game in the sixth inning, where he gave up a one-out single to center fielder Tyler Bak. Bak stole second, bringing pinch-hitter Andrew Mannelly to the plate. Entering Saturday’s game, Mannelly was hitting for a lowly .105 average this season.

He however came through big time for the Terriers, as he lifted an RBI-single into left field to score Bak from second base. After losing its 2-0 lead in the third inning, Wofford had reclaimed a 4-3 lead in the sixth.

Once again however, that lead wouldn’t last for long. Kentucky loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning, which brought Tyler Bell back to the plate. Bell hit a ball to deep right field, but Wofford right fielder David Wiley made a SportsCenter Top 10 caliber diving catch to rob the freshman of his second extra-base hit of the game. Shaun Montoya was however able to score from third, which tied the game at four.

The ‘Cats could have taken the lead, but Dylan Koontz struck out with runners on second and third to end the seventh.

Wofford explodes for eight-run ninth inning

Left-hander Jackson Nove entered in the relief in the seventh inning and did everything in his power to give Kentucky a chance to take a lead. He didn’t allow a hit in the seventh or eighth innings, bringing the Wildcat offense back up to bat in the bottom of the eighth with a chance to take the lead.

Hudson Brown started things out strong, opening the half inning with a single. Kyuss Gargett entered as a pinch-runner and eventually reached third, putting the go-ahead run 90-feet away from home. Devin Burkes layed down a squeeze bunt attempting to score Gargett from third, but the throw home beat him and kept the game at 4-4 heading into the ninth.

Nove returned to the mound in the ninth inning and allowed Wofford’s first two batters to reach on a bunt single and a walk. He was replaced by right-hander Simon Gregersen, who gave up a go-ahead two-run single to Wofford’s David Wiley. He finished with four RBIs on the day.

Left fielder Andrew Mannelly followed up with another two-run single, propelling the Terriers to an 8-4 lead. Following a run being scored on a Dylan Koontz error and a two-run double from Ryan Wynn, Wofford had jumped out to an insurmountable 12-4 lead.

The ‘Cats came back up to bat in the ninth, but were held to just one run to end the game.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Kentucky and Wofford will play in the series finale Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. EST.