Kentucky falls to No. 4 Georgia 17-10 in explosive series finale

Kentucky and No. 4 Georgia combined for 27 runs in Sunday’s series finale, but the Bulldogs came out on top with the 17-10 win to take the SEC opening series.

The ‘Cats totaled 10 runs on nine hits, but the Bulldog offense completely overwhelmed Nick Mingione’s pitching staff. Georgia compiled 17 runs on 15 hits, including four home runs (two from Henry Hunter). Kentucky’s 17 allowed runs were its most in a single game since a 17-3 loss to Texas A&M on April 9, 2022.

Over the three-game span, Kentucky gave up 36 runs to the Georgia offense. It was almost a complete flip of the script, the ‘Cats outscored the Bulldogs 37-15 in Lexington last season.

Speaking of 2024, Kentucky won its first five SEC series of the season. Now, it drops its opening series of the 2025 season to the Bulldogs.

Kentucky rides power surge to early lead

Through the first two games of Kentucky’s SEC opening series against Georgia, just two Wildcat batters hit a home run (Cole Hage and Patrick Herrera). Through two innings on Sunday however, Luke Lawrence, Cole Hage and Devin Burkes all went yard.

Kentucky’s first three batters of the game all slugged extra-base hits, as Shaun Montoya led off the game with a double. He was followed by Luke Lawrence, who belted a two-run home run to right field to give the ‘Cats their first two runs of the game. Cole Hage followed the leadoff duo with a solo home run, his second of the series, to extend the lead to three.

https://t.co/65DG7Ob5UF pic.twitter.com/NSoxHSu9iI

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) March 16, 2025

Devin Burkes then led off the second inning with a solo home run, his second of the season, to tack on one more run to the Wildcat lead. Georgia’s Robbie Burnett and Kolby Branch also homered in the first two innings though, which made it a 4-2 Kentucky lead through two frames.

Georgia explodes for seven runs in third inning

Kentucky left-hander Ethan Walker made his fourth start of the season on Sunday and held Georgia to just two hits (both home runs) and two earned runs through the first two innings. However, things went south fast for the Longwood transfer in the third inning.

Walker quickly loaded the bases by allowing a single and hitting two pitchers, leading to his replacement. Left-hander Evan Byers entered with the bases loaded (like he did on Friday), but did not enjoy the success he did in the series opener.

Former Wildcat Nolan McCarthy came through with the bases loaded once again for the Bulldogs, driving a two-run single up the middle to make it a 4-4 game. Devin Obee followed McCarthy with another single up the middle, bringing home yet another run. Georgia now led 5-4, but it wasn’t done scoring yet.

Byers was subsequently replaced by right-hander Nile Adcock, who did not fare any better than his predecessor. Adcock walked Georgia’s Slate Alford with the bases loaded, then gave up a bases clearing three-run double to Robbie Burnett. In just a short span, Kentucky went from leading by two to trailing by five.

Robbie adding more insurance 💪#GoDawgs | @RobbieBurnett25 pic.twitter.com/nx7JR2sFK7

— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA) March 16, 2025

‘Cats slowly crawl way back to tie game

After falling behind by five, Kentucky slowly chipped in to the Bulldog lead.

These runs were scored in unconventional ways, as Hudson Brown scored from third on a wild pitch and Patrick Herrera scored from third on a Devin Burkes RBI-groundout in the top of the fourth inning. Georgia’s Henry Hunter however belted his third home run of the series in the latter half of the frame, a solo shot, to extend the lead back to four.

With the deficit back at four, the Wildcats scored two more runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to crawl all the way back to tie the game at 10.

Once again, these four total runs were scored in unconventional fashion. Cole Hage scored on a wild pitch and Tyler Bell scored on a Hudson Brown RBI sac-fly in the fifth, and Griffin Cameron scored on a wild pitch and Shaun Montoya scored on a Luke Lawrence RBI-groundout in the sixth. Runs are runs however, as the game was suddenly tied at 10 much to the chagrin of those in attendance at Foley Field.

Bulldogs reopen lead in five-run sixth inning

Just as Kentucky had made the long climb back to tie the game in the top of the sixth, Georgia reopened the game with a five run bottom of the sixth.

Right-hander Simon Gregersen allowed back-to-back-to-back singles to open the frame, which drove home the first Bulldog run of the inning. He was replaced by left-hander Jackson Nove, who gave up an RBI-single as well. After Tyler Bell made a throwing error to first which allowed another run to score, Nick Mingione made an interesting decision to replace Nove with freshman right-hander Tristan Hunter. This move didn’t work out the way he may have wanted.

With the bases loaded, Hunter walked back-to-back batters to gift the Bulldogs two more runs. Left-hander Hayden Smith got the ‘Cats out of the jam, but it was nearly too late.

Wildcats drop opening SEC series

Georgia’s Henry Hunter blasted his fourth home run of the series in the bottom of the seventh inning, extending the Bulldog lead to seven.

This was enough to keep the Kentucky offense at bay, which went scoreless over the final three innings of play. With the loss, Kentucky falls to 14-4 (1-2).

What’s next for Kentucky?

After dropping its first SEC series of the season, the ‘Cats will look to bounce back in their mid-week matchup against Murray State on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST at Kentucky Proud Park.