Kentucky Baseball's Comeback Falls Short, Cats Drop Game Two of Series to Wright State

After a dominant 8-3 victory Friday night which featured an explosive 14 hits by the Kentucky offense, the Bat ‘Cats dug themselves into an early hole that they couldn’t climb out of on Saturday. The Wildcats fell 12-9 to Wright State in the second game of the three-game series.

Starting on the mound for Kentucky was graduate student Tyler Bosma, who was untouchable in his first start of the season. Bosma led the ‘Cats to their first victory of the year, pitching six innings, allowing no runs and just two hits a week ago to Elon. Saturday, however, didn’t quite go to plan for the fifth-year slinger.

Wright State Jumps All Over Bosma

The Raiders jumped on Bosma immediately, as Wright State scored a run before an out was recorded for the second game in a row. SS Justin Riemer led the game off with a single and 1B Julian Greenwell scored him with a double down the right-field line. After OF Jay Luikart walked, 2B Gehrig Anglin knocked in Greenwell from third as a result of a fielder’s choice.

After Anglin advanced to second following a failed pickoff attempt, OF Andrew Patrick stepped up to bat. Much to the chagrin of the Wildcat faithful, Patrick launched a two-run home run to left center field. The ‘Cats found themselves down four early, and it would only get worse from there.

In response to the early Wright State statement, Kentucky went hitless in their first two innings. The Raiders continued to pile on the runs, as Anglin secured his second RBI of the day on a single to left field. After Anglin advanced to third on yet another failed pickoff attempt, Patrick smacked a double to right center to score Anglin for the second time in three innings. Tyler Bosma departed after just 2.2 IP, allowing seven hits and six earned runs. Wright State led 6-0 after three.

The ‘Cats scooted across their first run of the afternoon in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a Grant Smith sacrifice bunt, which scored Jackson Gray. The Raiders took this personally, as they continued to bury the ‘Cats deeper and deeper.

In the top of the fifth, Wright State scored three more runs. Luikart doubled to right field, scoring C Sammy Sass from second. With Luikart on third, Andrew Patrick continued his big game, smacking another two-run home run (this time to right field). James McCoy scored on an Émilien Pitre in the bottom of the fifth, giving Wright State a 9-2 advantage through five.

Kentucky’s Offense Wakes Up

After both teams went scoreless in the sixth, the Wildcat offense finally woke up in the bottom of the seventh. The Raiders tacked on one more in the top of the inning thanks to a Luikart solo home run, but the ‘Cats responded immediately.

McCoy got the bats going with a double to right field, advancing Ryan Waldschmidt to third. Devin Burkes stepped up to bat and doubled to right field, scoring both McCoy and Waldschmidt for his seventh and eighth RBI of the season. Following Burkes’ steal of third and a Hunter Gilliam walk, OF Jackson Gray launched a three-run home run to left center. All of a sudden, this was a 10-7 game after seven.

In the top of the eighth, sophomore RHP Colby Frieda made his first appearance of the season and struck out the side, giving the Wildcat faithful hope. This hope continued in the bottom of the eighth, as Nolan McCarthy was selected to pinch-hit for Chase Stanke, who was 0-3 on the day. McCarthy stepped up and knocked a solo home run to right center, bringing the ‘Cats to within two heading into the final inning.

Raiders Shut the Door on Comeback

Following Frieda’s flawless eighth inning, he immediately surrendered a double to 2B Ben Stoner to start the ninth. He was promptly replaced by senior swiss army knife Ryder Giles. Preseason Horizon League Player of the Year Sammy Sass finally made his presence known in the series, knocking a single to left field to score Stoner from second. Luikart then stepped back up to the plate and launched his second home run of the day, shutting down a potential comeback.

Luikart and Patrick gave the Raiders a great performance on Saturday, both finishing with two home runs a piece and knocking in eight of Wright State’s 12 total runs.

Although Émilien Pitre led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, the ‘Cats would only score one run. Wright State marched into KPP and took game two of the series 12-9.

Sunday’s rubber match between the Raiders and Wildcats is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST at Kentucky Proud Park.