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Kentucky bounces back with thrilling 10-7 win over No. 4 Georgia

IMG_8756by:Daniel Hager•about 10 hours•

DanielHagerKSR

Kentucky-bounces-back-with-thrilling-win-over-Georgia
Kentucky Baseball team huddle (Photo by UK Athletics)

Kentucky bounced back from a lopsided Friday loss to take down No. 4 Georgia 10-7 Saturday afternoon, ending the Bulldogs’ winning streak at 17 games. They were three wins away from tying the longest win streak in program history (20 straight in 1908).

After a disappointing effort in the series opener on Friday, the Kentucky lineup exploded for 10 runs on 13 hits Saturday. Eight different Wildcat batters totaled at least one hit, while four totaled at least two. Left fielder Cole Hage went 3-6 at the plate with two RBI, pushing his season batting average back up to .441 (sixth in SEC).

Along with the hits, Kentucky was gifted with 11 free passes from the Georgia pitching staff (seven walks, four HBP).

Sophomore left-hander Ben Cleaver made his fifth start of the season and held the explosive Bulldog offense in check, holding them to just five hits and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. Cleaver struck out six batters, bringing his season total to 30 (fifth most among SEC sophomores).

With Kentucky’s 10-7 win, No. 4 Georgia is no longer undefeated at Foley Field this season (15-1).

Players of the Game:

  • LHP Ben Cleaver: The sophomore lefty held an explosive Georgia lineup to just five hits and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out six batters.
  • SS Tyler Bell: After an 0-4 day at the plate on Friday, Bell bounced back to go 2-4 with a double and three RBI.
  • 3B Patrick Herrera: Herrera belted his first career home run in a Kentucky uniform and turned an incredible SportsCenter Top 10 worthy double play in the bottom of the seventh inning.

‘Cats get off to another hot start

Kentucky got off to another hot start on Saturday, as it scored three runs in the first two innings for the second consecutive game.

While the Wildcat pitching staff struggled with control on Friday, the Georgia pitching staff struggled on Saturday. Luke Lawrence drew a walk to open the game, bringing up Tyler Bell with two outs in the first frame. The freshman phenom had a horrific start to SEC play, as he went 0-4 at the plate with three strikeouts.

He however snapped out of his slump on Saturday, as he ripped an RBI-double down the third base line to score Lawrence from second base. Georgia tied the game with a Slate Alford solo home run in the bottom of the first, but the ‘Cats responded with two more runs in the top of the second.

Devin Burkes was plunked, Griffin Cameron was walked and Shaun Montoya singled on a perfect bunt down the third base line, loading the bases with no outs. The ‘Cats took advantage of this for two runs, courtesy of RBI sac-flies from Lawrence and Bell. Following an RBI-single from Georgia’s Ryan Zaborowski in the latter half of the inning, Kentucky led 3-2 through two.

Kentucky rides dominant innings to seven-run lead

The Georgia pitching staff continued to struggle in the third inning, which led to four Wildcat runs in the frame.

Although two outs were recorded, Griffin Cameron was walked and Patrick Herrera and Luke Lawrence were plunked to load the bases for Cole Hage. Hage, who drove in three of Kentucky’s six runs on Friday, continued his strong start to SEC play with a two-run single to center field to give the ‘Cats a 5-2 lead.

As Tyler Bell strolled to the batter’s box following Hage’s two-run single, Nick Mingione had seemingly noticed that Georgia reliever Alton Davis II was taking his time on the mound. The opportunistic ‘Cats took advantage of this, as Luke Lawrence stole home from third as Davis II was standing straight up. Lawrence slid in safe, making it a 6-2 game.

Bell capped off the four-run inning with an RBI-single to left field, driving in Hage from second for his third RBI of the game.

Just as they had done in the prior three innings, Kentucky loaded the bases once again in the fourth inning on two drawn walks and a Devin Burkes double. Luke Lawrence made the Georgia pitching staff pay once again with a two-run single up the middle, making it a dominant 9-2 lead for the Wildcats.

Wildcats hold on for first SEC victory

Just as it did in the Friday loss, game momentum seemed to be heading in the direction of Georgia in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Ryan Zaborowski and Slate Alford both belted solo home runs to open the frame, breathing some life back into Foley Field. Ben Cleaver then walked and plunked a batter, putting two on base with two outs for former Wildcat Nolan McCarthy.

It was here where Cleaver’s day would come to an end. He was replaced by right-hander Nile Adcock, who immediately plunked McCarthy to load the bases. He however bounced back strong, striking out pinch-hitter Brennan Hudson to strand the bases loaded preserve the five run lead.

Georgia pinch-hitter Christian Adams pulled the Bulldogs within four runs with an RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh inning, but a Patrick Herrera solo home run pushed the lead back to five in the top of the eighth. Herrera’s solo home run was his first in a Wildcat uniform.

Right-hander Scott Rouse pitched the final four innings in relief, where he allowed five hits and three earned runs. Georgia catcher Henry Hunter belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull the Bulldogs within three, but Rouse held Georgia at bay to cement the victory.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Kentucky and No. 4 Georgia will clash in the series finale on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EST. The game will once again be broadcast on SEC Network+.

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2025-03-15