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Kentucky Baseball Takes Down No. 3 South Carolina 7-3

IMG_8756by:Daniel Hager•05/05/23•

DanielHagerKSR

Pregame speech
Photo by Ethan Rand (UK Athletics)

In what may have been Kentucky’s most needed win of the season, the ‘Cats had a nice bounce back performance on Friday afternoon to take down No. 3 South Carolina 7-3. A huge win over a top-five opponent after losing 10 of their last 13 games is crucial for team morale, not to mention their NCAA Tournament resume.

After playing in just 23 of Kentucky’s 43 games this season, James McCoy had his best game of the season in this one. In his first game played since April 22nd, McCoy legged out an inside-the-park home run in the second inning and made a nice diving grab in right field in the fifth inning.

“James McCoy, how about him offensively,” Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione said after the game. Mingione reflected on sending McCoy home for the inside the parker, saying “I saw how hard he was running. With two outs, I thought it was the right time. I’m glad it worked out.” Run, James, Run.

Travis Smith first start of the season against an SEC opponent was a smashing success. Smith lasted six innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run. Travis struck out five as well, bringing his season total to 34. The future ace has had an outstanding last three outings, giving up just 10 hits, three earned runs, and striking out 14 over his last 15 innings pitched.

“[My arm] feels the best it’s ever felt,” Smith said after the game. “The more pitches I throw, I feel better even week.”

Off to the Races…

The ‘Cats scratched first in this one. After a nice opening frame from Smith, Jackson Gray led off the bottom of the inning with a single through the right side. Gray has propelled himself to the team lead in batting average after a scorching hot last two weeks. Émilien Pitre was then plunked on a pitch that totally missed his elbow guard, putting two runners in scoring position after Pitre successfully stole second. With Ryan Waldschmidt up to bat, South Carolina’s Jonathan French failed to block a wild pitch from Will Sanders allowing Jackson Gray to dart home for the score. Kentucky took a quick 1-0 lead through one.

After another solid inning for Smith in the second, this weekend’s Kentucky Derby theme continued for the ‘Cats in the bottom of the inning. After a quick two outs, James McCoy, who is batting just .202 on the season, brought KPP to its feet. McCoy hit a routine flyball to center field, which Carolina outfielders Dylan Brewer and Ethan Petry lost in the sun. McCoy realized this and began to fly around the bases. McCoy darted home for an inside-the-park home run, Kentucky’s first since 2015 (Riley Mahan). Grant Smith followed things up with a double, but Jackson Gray quickly grounded out to end the inning. Some early fireworks for the ‘Cats in this one.

Dueling Dingers

The ‘Cats knew they couldn’t hold the Gamecocks off for long. The nation’s third-best longball hitting team increased their season total to 99 home runs in the third inning. South Carolina’s Gavin Casas, brother of Boston Red Sox starting first baseman Triston Casas, went deep to right center field for his 17th home run of the season. Seventeen of Casas’ 37 hits on the season are longballs. Casas’ homer was just Smith’s second allowed of the season. Travis bounced back nicely however, striking Hornung and Tippett out looking to get out of the inning.

It was a battle between the best and worst longball hitting teams in the SEC, but the ‘Cats got the last laugh in this one. After Jackson Gray led off the inning with his second single of the day, Jase Felker layed a beautiful bunt down the first base line. He reached safely, but Gray was thrown out rounding second. Gray’s baserunning blunder would end up hurting the ‘Cats, as Hunter Gilliam launched his ninth home run of the season in the next at-bat. A two-run home run could have just as easily been a three-run. Gilliam’s first home run since April 18th propelled Kentucky to a 4-1 lead through five innings.

Carolina Cuts into Lead, but Wildcats Respond Quickly

Travis Smith was pulled to begin the seventh inning, making way for Midseason All-American Ryan Hagenow. Hagenow, who struggled in Sunday’s loss to Vanderbilt, struggled again in this one. After striking out Carson Hornung to kick off the inning, back-to-back-to-back singles led to a South Carolina run. Hagenow was then replaced by Mason Moore. Moore allowed an RBI sac-fly, but struck out Caleb Denny to get out of the jam. Relief pitching has been an Achilles heel for the ‘Cats as of late. Kentucky clung on to a 4-3 lead through seven.

Once again, Kentucky responded to a Carolina score. Nick Mingione’s program seemed to show more heart in this one than they have in any game as of late. After having their lead cut to just one, the ‘Cats piled on three runs in the seventh. The Gamecocks trotted out sophomore Eli Jones to start the seventh, and he struggled. Thanks to two singles and an error that marked Jackson Gray safe at first, bases were loaded for Hunter Gilliam. Gilly was walked on four pitches, bringing home a Wildcat run. Jones stayed in the game for SC, a mistake they ended up regretting. Ryan Waldschmidt, who was 0-3 on the afternoon, faked a bunt, pulled back, and ripped a two-run single over the head of Carolina’s Casas at first to extend the Wildcat lead to four through seven innings.

Victory, Kentucky

Mason Moore finished things out for the ‘Cats in the ninth by sitting down the Gamecocks in order to end this one. A massive win for the slumping Bat ‘Cats as we inch closer and closer to the postseason.

Kentucky and South Carolina will meet in game two of the series at Kentucky Proud Park on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Head on over to KPP for some Pre-Derby baseball and beautiful weather.

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