Kentucky falls to No. 14 Louisville 4-3 in 10 inning thriller

For the fourth consecutive game, Kentucky headed to the ninth inning in a tie ballgame. The ‘Cats are now 1-3 in such games, as they lost 4-3 in walk-off fashion to No. 14 Louisville Tuesday night. It marked the seventh extra-inning game in the history of the Battle of the Bluegrass, where Kentucky and Louisville have now both won three of those games (one tie).

Louisville outhit Kentucky 12-9 on the night, with six different Wildcat hitters notching a hit. Shaun Montoya was responsible for three of Kentucky’s nine hits and two of Kentucky’s three runs (scored and drove in a run). 12 of Kentucky’s 34 hitters however were struck out by a combination of eight Louisville arms.

Seven Wildcat pitchers saw action against the ‘Cards, where the first six (Walker, Adcock, Byers, Harris, McCoy and Hentschel) held the nation’s No. 14 ranked team to 10 hits and just two runs. Right-hander Robert Hogan however entered in the 10th inning and allowed back-to-back RBI singles, handing Louisville the win.

With the loss, the ‘Cats have now dropped 14 of their last 18 meetings against Louisville. Kentucky has also lost 12 games before April 9th for the first time since 2022 (missed the NCAA Tournament).

‘Cats and ‘Cards trade early runs

Kentucky nearly threw the first punch immediately Tuesday night, as Cole Hage reached base via a walk with just one out in the inning. Hudson Brown followed Hage with a single through the right side, which would have put two runners on with just one out. Hage however attempted to take third and was thrown out, totaling the first base running miscue of the game for the ‘Cats.

After a scoreless inning of work from Kentucky left-hander Ethan Walker however, the Wildcat offense was brought back to the plate in the top of the second. Following a Devin Burkes pop-out to open the frame, Shaun Montoya singled and Ethan Hindle walked to put two on with just one out. Griffin Cameron, who has become the everyday center fielder following the injury to Will Marcy, came through with an RBI-single through the right side to give Kentucky an early lead. Montoya scored, but Hindle was thrown out attempting to nab third. There’s two base running miscues for the ‘Cats.

That lead didn’t last long, as Louisville quickly scored in the bottom of the inning. Louisville’s Lucas Moore led off the bottom of the second with a triple and immediately scored thanks to an Eddie King Jr. RBI-single. The game remained tied at two until the bottom of the fifth inning.

Shaun Montoya knots game at two

Louisville took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, courtesy of left fielder Zion Rose. Right-hander Nile Adcock, who took over for Walker, allowed three straight singles which brought home the second Cardinal run. The ‘Cats suffered their third base running miscue in the top of the inning, when Luke Lawrence was caught in a pickle after a pickoff attempt to second. That was three in five frames for Kentucky.

After scoring Kentucky’s lone run of the game however, Shaun Montoya re-tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. Hudson Brown walked to open the inning and stole second, putting a runner in scoring position. Montoya, who has slid down the Wildcat lineup, delivered with an RBI-single through the right side.

T6 | 2-2

Just as you draw it up, @HBrown2318's speed leads to a run! @shaunmontoya10 with an RBI single. He's 3-for-3.

📺 @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/7yAIBVeK2l

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 9, 2025

The ‘Cats opened the seventh strong with a double by Raphael Pelletier, who notched just his fifth hit of the season (three have been doubles). He would reach third, but was unable to score the go-ahead run as Cole Hage struck out to end the half inning.

Louisville walks off the Battle of the Bluegrass

Kentucky went down in order in both the eighth and ninth innings, giving the ‘Cards a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth.

Louisville’s Tagger Tyson opened the bottom of the ninth with a deep flyball to center field, which Griffin Cameron misplayed and dropped. Tyson reached second, which put the game-winning run in scoring position for the ‘Cards. He however got picked off by Pelletier, wiping that runner off the board.

Right-hander pitcher James McCoy forced a groundout to earn the second out in the inning, but then allowed a two-out double to Louisville shortstop Alex Alicea. With Jim Patterson Stadium buzzing, Lucas Moore had a chance to walk it off for the ‘Cards. Raphael Pelletier, who replaced Devin Burkes behind the plate, however threw out a stealing Alicea at third to send the game to extras.

Pelletier’s throw down would end up being huge (obviously), as it brought the Kentucky offense back to bat in the top of the 10th. The frame started perfectly for Kentucky, as Griffin Cameron reached first on a bunt single. The throw from Louisville second baseman Kamau Neighbors sailed into the dugout, allowing him to reach second.

After a sac-bunt from Luke Lawrence moved him over to third, Cole Hage delivered big time. Hage laced an RBI-single into left field, propelling the ‘Cats to a 3-2 lead.

CATS LEAD!!!!@Colehage_33 was robbed of a HR earlier but he delivers in the 10th to give UK a 3-2 edge.

T10 | UK 3, UL 2 pic.twitter.com/MXiSp3VNjQ

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 9, 2025

Left-hander Cole Hentschel pitched the 10th for Kentucky, where he allowed a walk and a single to open the frame. He was replaced by right-hander Robert Hogan, who has struggled all season long after being one of the key members of the 2024 Men’s College World Series team.

Hogan however immediately allowed an RBI-single to Louisville’s Jake Munroe and a walk-off single to Eddie King Jr., handing the ‘Cards the victory.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Following the Battle of the Bluegrass, the ‘Cats will host No. 2 Texas at Kentucky Proud Park this weekend for the first time ever. First pitch of Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.