Kentucky Baseball Takes Rivalry Game Over Indiana

The surging Wildcats welcomed rival Indiana to Kentucky Proud Park on Tuesday afternoon and left with its 11th victory in a row.

Thanks to another offensive explosion, Kentucky baseball handled the Hoosiers by a score of 12-2 in seven innings. The Wildcat offense has been on fire over their past two outings, scoring 33 runs in just 14 innings of play. Kentucky adds another victory to its all-time record against the Hoosiers, bringing the record to 25-20.

Starting on the mound for the ‘Cats was redshirt freshman Travis Smith, who made his fourth start of the season. In 11 innings pitched this year, Smith has garnered a 3.27 ERA with seven hits allowed, four earned runs, and 12 strikeouts. Smith was on a short leash Tuesday, pitching just 2.1 innings. He allowed just two hits and one earned run in his brief stint. Smith is still operating on a pitch count due to Tommy John surgery after his senior year of high school.

Balk Leads to First Run of Game

After a scoreless inning from both teams, the Bat ‘Cats struck first in the bottom of the second. Thanks to a fielding error by IU’s Glasser and back-to-back HBPs by RHP Gabe Levy, the bases were loaded with Chase Stanke up to bat. With two balls and no strikes in the count, Levy balked, scoring Gilliam from third with ease.

It is the first Wildcat run scored this season on a balk. Levy was replaced by RHP Aydan Decker-Petty following the balk, who walked Stanke to reload the bases. Grant Smith made Decker-Petty pay by slashing a single to center field, scoring James McCoy and Ryan Waldschmidt.

The ‘Cats held a 3-0 lead after two.

G-MONEY!@grantsmithnm lines a two-run single to CF on an 0-2 count.

E2 | UK 3, Indiana 0

👀 https://t.co/ZCs33MOkIa pic.twitter.com/IY9sgcrDFi

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) March 14, 2023

The Hoosiers responded in the top of the third inning, scoring a run to make it a 3-1 game. After striking out to begin the game, Indiana’s Phillip Glasser, who is playing some of the best baseball in the entire Big Ten, finally made his presence known. Glasser blooped a single to center field, putting runners on first and third for IU. Hunter Jessee then hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Evan Gorforth from third.

Stay Hot, Captain

He’s the reigning Co-SEC and Co-CBN Player of the Week for a reason. After Devin Burkes drew an inning-opening walk, red-hot Hunter Gilliam smoked a double to right center field, scoring Burkes all the way from first. The pesky Hoosiers refused to fold, however.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Hoosiers plated another run on a Matthew Ellis double to left field. Ellis’ RBI double was Jackson Nove’s first allowed earned run of the season in 7.2 innings of action.

Gilliam continued his hot streak and added to the Wildcat lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Gilly blooped a single to left field, scoring Burkes from second. Gilliam’s bloop RBI was his second of the day and his 15th hit in the last 23 at-bats. With the RBI, Captain Gilly reclaimed the team lead in RBI from Burkes. Gilliam has emerged as one of the best transfers in the entire SEC so far this season.

Six-Run Sixth Blows Game Open

The ‘Cats headed into the bottom of the sixth with a 5-2 lead. By the end of the inning, the game was out of reach.

Bases were loaded quickly after two walks and a Grant Smith single. Jase Felker skied a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored Chase Stanke from third. Devin Burkes was then plunked, loading the bases once again. Émilien Pitre, who was 0-2 on the day, then popped a bloop single to left field which scored Jackson Gray and Smith. Pitre’s two-RBI single fell right in between Indiana’s LF Mathison and 3B Goforth. Perfect placement.

Up 8-2 with just one out in the inning, Hunter Gilliam continued to deliver for the ‘Cats. He smoked a 413-foot home run to left center field, clearing the bases and adding three more RBI to his day. With his home run, Gilliam logged his 14th RBI in the last four games with two consecutive five-plus RBI outings.

Forget a transfer, “The Captain” may just be one of the best players in the SEC this season.

😱😱😱😱@CaptGIlliam goes 413 feet out to LCF for a three-run #BigBlueBomb!

B6 | UK 11, IU 2 pic.twitter.com/7JeNO1TbgA

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) March 14, 2023

“I’m just trying to ride the wave,” Gilliam told KSR after the game. “We’ve been putting in a lot of work and it’s a good feeling.”

For the second game in a row, the Wildcats have mercy-ruled the opponent; a good omen for the start of SEC play. Burkes knocked a single up the middle, scoring Jackson Gray from second and ending this one in seven via run rule.

The 15-2 Bat ‘Cats will be back in action on Friday when they welcome the Mississippi State Bulldogs to Kentucky Proud Park. It will be their first SEC matchup of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.