Kentucky blanked by South Carolina in 10-0 route

After scoring 15 runs on 16 hits Saturday night, No. 4 Kentucky was held to just five hits and no runs as it fell to No. 20 South Carolina 10-0 in the rubber match on Sunday.

Sunday’s contest marked the first time this season Kentucky has been shut out.

South Carolina right-hander Dylan Eskew mowed down the Wildcat offense, allowing just five hits and no runs while striking out two. He lasted 6 1/3 innings, marking the longest start of his career.

Kentucky drops its second straight SEC series, falling to 33-9 (16-5). The Cats are now just a half game ahead of Tennessee atop the SEC East after dropping four of their last five games.

Players of the Game

• None

‘Cocks take lead via longball, but Cats catch break

After two scoreless innings, South Carolina broke the scoring seal in the third with a three-run home run from Ethan Petry. Well, that’s what should have happened.

Mason Moore gave up a double to Gavin Casas and walked Austin Brinling, putting two on for Petry. Petry, who leads Carolina with 15 home runs, then belted a no-doubt three-run shot over the left field fence.

However, little league base running cost Petry home run number 16.

Ethan Petry crushes a three run bomb but passes Austin Brinling rounding first. Petry is out and the home run only counts for two runs pic.twitter.com/y1o9Re2KTY

— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) April 28, 2024

As Brinling seemed to have been making sure Petry’s home run was indeed over the fence, Petry lapped him on the base path. Brinling sped up to avoid this, but it was too late.

Petry was ruled out, and his three-run home run was overturned to a two-run single. However, Carolina still took a lead at 2-0.

The Gamecocks added on one more run in the fourth, once again in controversial fashion.

After the red-hot Cole Messina led off the inning with a double, he made his way over to third on a groundout to first base. Kennedy Jones was up to bat next, and he hit a hard-hit grounder to Mitch Daly at third.

Messina broke for home, so Daly came up throwing to Burkes at home. Burkes made the tag and Messina was ruled out, but the ‘Cocks challenged. Upon further review, Messina was ruled safe, giving Carolina a 3-0 lead.

Carolina chases Moore in fifth with six-run explosion

Kentucky right-hander Mason Moore made his 11th start of the season for the Cats on Sunday and continued to struggle.

Moore, who entered Sunday’s contest having allowed five earned runs in both of his past two starts (Auburn & Tennessee), exited in the fifth inning after giving up his ninth run of the game. The righty has allowed 20 hits and 19 earned runs in his last 12 innings pitched, good for an ERA of 14.25.

Moore loaded the bases to start the inning, and then proceeded to allow four of his next six batters faced to drive in at least one run on run-scoring singles. The two batters who did not drive in a run on a single drove in a run via a sac-bunt and were plunked by Moore. Mercifully, his day was over after 4 2/3.

Cats run-ruled in seven

The Gamecocks scored one more run in the sixth inning on a Kennedy Jones RBI sac-fly, pulling ahead by 10.

Mitch Daly notched a hit in the seventh and ended up reaching third base, but Grant Smith popped out to end the game.

Kentucky was run-ruled in eight innings by Kennesaw State back on March 8, but Sunday marked the first time this season the Cats were run-ruled in seven.

What’s next for No. 4 Kentucky?

There is no midweek game for Kentucky for the second consecutive week. The Cats will be back in action next Friday, May 3, when they host No. 2 Arkansas at Kentucky Proud Park. Biggest series of the season for the Bat Cats.