Kentucky Baseball Avoids Sweep, Downs Texas A&M 8-1

With April coming to a close, the ‘Cats have still yet to be swept.

After a brutal doubleheader loss on Saturday, a four-run seventh inning propelled Kentucky baseball to an 8-1 victory over Texas A&M on Sunday. A sweep would have been devastating for the ‘Cats, with series matchups against No. 4 Vanderbilt, No. 6 South Carolina, Tennessee, and No. 3 Florida on the horizon. A series loss isn’t great, but a win on Sunday was crucial.

Lock-down relief pitching was the backbone of Sunday’s victory. Zack Lee made his 10th start of the season and lasted 3.1 innings, allowing four hits, one run and five walks. Lee became the third Kentucky pitcher in the weekend series to walk five batters. It’s tough to know whether that falls on control issues or a tight strike zone. In relief, however, the foursome of Evan Byers, Colby Freida, Jackson Nove, and Magdiel Cotto dominated the final five innings of this one, allowing just a combined two hits and no earned runs.

Wildcats Strike First

After a sweaty first inning for Zack Lee which featured loaded bases after three early walks, the ‘Cats made it to the bottom of the first unscathed. After belting a home run and driving in three runs in Saturday night’s 8-7 loss, Reuben Church earned the start at DH in this one.

Nick Mingione made another lineup change on Sunday, now batting Hunter Gilliam ahead of Émilien Pitre in the lineup. Gilliam and Pitre kicked off the game with back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and second for the ‘Cats. Reuben Church stepped up to bat with two outs in the inning and poked a single to center field, which was enough to score Gilliam. Just like they did in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, the ‘Cats took an early 1-0 lead.

Jackson Gray forecasted what would be a massive day for the WKU transfer in the bottom of the second inning as he belted a solo home run, his third of the season and first since his clutch grand slam against this former school earlier in the season. Ryan Waldschmidt followed this up with a double but was unable to score. Kentucky held a 2-0 lead to the third.

Aggies Respond Quick

Just as they did on Saturday, the pesky Aggies just wouldn’t go away. After a HBP and back-to-back singles, TAMU suddenly had the bases loaded with just one out in the inning. Jace LaViolette, who robbed Hunter Gilliam of a home run on Saturday, delivered for the Ags. LaViolette flied out to center field, but it was deep enough to drive in Jack Moss. The two-run lead was quickly cut to one.

Where they faltered on Saturday, they thrived in this one. Facing adversity against the Aggies had dug them into a deep hole, so it was only right the ‘Ags helped out the ‘Cats a bit in this one. Kentucky quickly loaded the bases thanks to a HBP and two walks with Jase Felker up to bat. Josh Stewart, who had just taken over for Shane Sdao, threw a wild pitch that allowed Émilien Pitre to dash home for the score. After Felker failed to drive a run home on a bunt, Devin Burkes scored on yet another wild pitch from Josh Stewart. The inning ended with two Wildcat runs on no hits. That’ll work.

Jackson Gray Puts This One Away in Seventh

After a quick top of the seventh by Jackson Nove, the ‘Cats were looking to add to their lead in the back half of the inning. After Reuben Church was plunked, Ryan Waldschmidt singled, and Jase Felker walked, Jackson Gray was up to bat. Gray, who homered in the second inning, belted a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases to give Kentucky an insurmountable 7-1 lead.

𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐘 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.@jacksongray23 with the base-clearing triple to open this one up. His 4th triple of the year is most in a single-season in Mingione era.

(P.S. – We think @Coach_Mingione liked it)

E7 | UK 8, TAMU 1 pic.twitter.com/PqPhKbPGAF

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 23, 2023

Grant Smith flied out to center field, but it was deep enough to drive in Gray. With two innings left, the ‘Cats led by seven. Kentucky has outscored their opponents 148-45 in innings five through seven this season. Just an insane stat.

Jackson Nove and Magdiel Cotto closed things out for the ‘Cats, allowing just two hits over the final two innings. Cotto struck out three Aggies in the ninth to bring home Kentucky’s 30th win of the season. Kentucky won just 33 games all of last season and is at 30 this season with another month to build on the total. It has been a great turnaround for this program this year.

Kentucky will be back in action on Tuesday when they welcome rival Louisville to Kentucky Proud Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.