'Cats Drop Game One of Weekend Series to Vanderbilt 6-4

After winning 21 of 22 games between February 26-April 7, the ‘Cats have suddenly lost eight of their last 11. After striking out 16 times, Kentucky baseball failed to overcome a three-run fifth inning deficit and fell 6-4 to Vanderbilt in game one of the weekend series. 16 of their 27 outs were by way of strikeout. Not a banner day for the Wildcat offense.

Darren Williams made his fourth start of the season for Kentucky and received his first loss of the season. Williams lasted four innings, giving up five hits and five earned runs. Something just seemed off in Friday’s weekend opener.

Suddenly, the Wildcats find themselves in a vulnerable position for maybe the first time this season. If this trend continues, Nick Mingione’s squad may slip further down the NCAA Tournament seed list and maybe out altogether. That isn’t a worry at the moment, but it isn’t too far from reality.

‘Cats & ‘Dores Trade Runs in Third

After two scoreless innings apiece from Williams and Reilly, the runs started to trickle in in the third inning. After Grant Smith struck out to start the inning, Jackson Gray drew a walk to put a runner on with one out in the inning. Gray’s third inning walk marked the 11th straight at-bat in which he reached base.

After Ryan Waldschmidt was plunked and Émilien Pire was walked, Devin Burkes came up to bat. Burkes has been slumping heavy lately, seeing his batting average drop nearly 30 points over the last month or so. Burkes delivered, knocking a bloop single to center field, just deep enough to drive in Gray and Waldschmidt.

The flares finally go UK's way, as @Devin_Burkes drives in two with one to CF!

Cats have made Vandy SP throw nearly 80 pitches in 2+ innings. pic.twitter.com/NepL54l0mD

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 28, 2023

Kentucky took an early 2-0 lead, but it didn’t last for long. Just like Vandy’s Patrick Reilly did in the previous half-inning, Darren Williams gifted the Commodores with free bases. Williams plunked two batters and walked Davis Diaz, loading the bases for Jack Bulger. Bulger responded to Burkes’ two-run single with one of his own. Bulger ripped a single through the right side, driving in Diaz and the speedy Enrique Bradfield Jr to knot this one up at two.

Long Ball Propels Vandy to Lead

After allowing the ‘Dores to tie the game in the third, the ‘Cats re-took the lead in the fourth. For the second time in the game, Kentucky loaded the bases after a Nolan McCarthy bunt single, a Jackson Gray HBP and a Hunter Gilliam walk. On an 0-2 count, Ryan Waldschmidt lifted a ball to center field, deep enough to drive in McCarthy from third. After tying things up in the third, Vanderbilt suddenly trailed once more. However, things would drastically change in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Speedster Enrique Bradfield Jr. was walked on four pitches to start the inning, and the SEC stolen base leader swiped second on cue. With Bradfield on second, Davis Diaz singled up the middle to knot this one back up at three apiece. Diaz lurked on first as Vanderbilt’s best player RJ Schreck came up to bat. With Williams reeling after allowing the ‘Dores to tie this one up, he hummed a pitch right into Schreck’s wheelhouse. The Duke transfer jumped all over it on the first pitch, launching his 11th home run of the season to give Vandy a 5-3 lead.

A Reuben Church RBI-single in the seventh inning brought the ‘Cats to within two, but that was as close as they would come. Vanderbilt relief pitching dominated Kentucky in this one. After starter Carter Holton was chased out relatively quickly, reliever Patrick Reilly had a dominant showing. Reilly lasted 4.1 innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. Reilly also struck out 10 Wildcat batters. Closer Nick Maldonado entered in the bottom of the ninth and struck out the side, ending this one.

After dropping Friday night's series opener at Vanderbilt, Kentucky has now lost eight of their last 11 games.

Final: #15 Kentucky 4 / #5 Vanderbilt 6 ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/DkArl6RZYQ

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) April 29, 2023

Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 3:00 p.m. EST. With the loss, Kentucky falls to 30-11 on the season. With the win, Vanderbilt improves to 30-11.