Kentucky Baseball drops game two against Missouri in 9-4 loss

Missouri’s Tony Neubeck diced up Kentucky Baseball on Friday night in Columbia as the Wildcats dropped game two of the series against the Tigers, 9-4.

Kentucky (21-14; 5-9 SEC) was unable to continue its fine hitting from Thursday night, as the ‘Cats collected just five hits, leaving only four runners on base.

Now down two starters for the season, UK head coach Nick Mingione tabbed reliever Sean Harney to toe the rubber first, but the 6-foot right hander was unable to keep Mizzou (20-12; 4-10) SEC in check. In 5.2 innings, the grad student allowed four earned runs on seven hits while walking a pair and hitting three batters.

We'll play a fourth straight SEC series rubber match on Saturday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/KjDFjTuxRG

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 16, 2022

The bats used all the juice in game one

After dismantling Missouri pitching for 15 runs on 22 hits on Thursday, Neubeck and reliever Austin Cheeley stifled the Wildcats in game two.

Kentucky landed just one extra base hit via a double from third baseman Chase Estep. The top of the order was negated in a big way, as Hunter Jump, Daniel Harris IV, Chase Estep and Jacob Plastiak went a combined 2-16, striking out six times while driving in zero runs.

Outfielder Adam Fogel was the lone ‘Cat to record multiple hits on Friday, batting 2-4 while knocking in one of UK’s four runs. Fogel is up to four hits in the series. Catcher Alonzo Rubalcaba is now 0-7 in the two games against the Tigers, leaving four runners on base.

Missouri shortstop Josh Day led the way for Mizzou, knocking in three runs on two hits, including a game-icing two-run triple in what was a five-run seventh inning. Six different Tigers notched one or more hit on Friday night.

Harney was good, but not good enough

Harney did what he could in his first start of the season, but was unable to keep runners off the bases. The Tigers scored three runs in the second inning, all courtesy of RBI singles. For Mingione to get nearly six innings out of a reliever in the first place is a victory, but Mizzou pushed ruins across the plate regardless.

In relief, Daniel Harper recorded just one out, finishing off the sixth inning after allowing two hits and a walk. Freshman Mason Moore out of Morehead, KY hurled 1.1 innings in his second appearance of the season, allowing two unearned runs on just one hit. The eighth inning was completed by fellow freshman Colby Frieda, who nabbed the final two outs for the UK staff.

Despite allowing nine runs, Kentucky pitchers walked just four batters while striking out five. Moore also plunked a batter, making four Tigers who were hit by a pitch in game two of the series.

Must win game three on Saturday

Kentucky could have done nicely with a sweep over one of the couple of SEC teams who are below them in the rankings. It seemed as though the ‘Cats were on pace to do so after Thursday’s thrashing, but Friday night told a much different story.

With grueling series against the likes of Florida, Vanderbilt and No. 1 Tennessee still to come, Kentucky has to get their conference wins when they can if they are to make a run at cracking the field of 64 in June.

The rubber match in Columbia is set for Saturday, April 16, with first pitch inside Taylor Stadium set for 2 p.m. EST. It will be broadcast on the SEC Network.