Kentucky falls to Western Kentucky 6-4 in rainy midweek clunker
Kentucky traveled to Bowling Green Tuesday night and fell to in-state rival Western Kentucky 6-4 in a rainy midweek clunker. The ‘Cats jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but were outscored 6-1 over the final 4 1/2 innings. Kentucky drops just its second game in the last 11 against the Hilltoppers.
With the loss, Kentucky falls to 25-17 on the season and has surpassed the loss total from the entirety of last season’s team (46-16). The win will certainly be a mega resume booster for a Western Kentucky team that was among the “Last Four In” in On3’s latest NCAA Tournament Field of 64 Projections.
Six different ‘Cats notched at least one hit, while four different players were responsible for at least one RBI (Tyler Bell, Carson Hansen, Ryan Schwartz and James McCoy). Cole Hage continued his recent hot streak at the plate, as he went 2-4 with a single and a double Tuesday afternoon. In his last 16 at-bats, Hage is 8-16 (.500) with five singles, two doubles and a home run.
Junior left-hander Ethan Walker made his ninth start of the season for Kentucky and kept Western scoreless until a disastrous fifth inning. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, where he allowed four runs on eight hits with just one strikeout. Right-hander Scott Rouse struggled as well, as he allowed two runs on three hits in just 2/3 inning. Rouse has now allowed an earned run in seven of his last eight appearances.
Sac-bunts lead to early Wildcat lead
It took just three batters on Tuesday afternoon for Kentucky to jump out to a 1-0 lead.
Freshman phenom shortstop Tyler Bell jumped on the opening pitch of the game and ripped a single to right field, immediately putting a runner on. He was moved over to second on a Kyuss Gargett sac-bunt, bringing center fielder Carson Hansen to the plate.
Hansen played his role perfectly, as he layed an RBI sac-bunt down the first base line that was bobbled and dropped by Western Kentucky starting pitcher Gavin Perry. Both Bell and Hansen were safe, giving the ‘Cats a 1-0 lead.
Kentucky’s Ethan Walker kept Western scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing the ‘Cats to score a single run in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead to three.
An at-bat after red-hot Cole Hage led off the fourth inning with a double to left field, freshman Ryan Schwartz drove him in with single to nearly the exact same spot. He was thrown out attempting to leg out the double. First baseman James McCoy, who plays both infield and pitches, then led off the fifth inning with a solo home run. His first longball of the season made it 3-0 ‘Cats.
‘Toppers take lead thanks to disastrous fifth inning
Kentucky quickly saw its three run lead turn into a three run deficit over the span of just two innings.
After quickly recording one out in the bottom of the fifth, Walker allowed a single to second baseman Austin Haller and an RBI-double to shortstop Reid Howard to put Western’s first run of the game on the board. This run sent Kentucky’s defense into a spiral, as things quickly got out of hand.
Left fielder Joe Siervo would reach safely thanks a fielding error by Kyuss Gargett at third, and third baseman Carlos Vasquez reached safely on a bunt due to a misplay by Ethan Walker. Suddenly, the bases were loaded with D1Baseball Midseason Second Team All-American Ryan Wideman up to bat.
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Wideman delivered with two-run single through the left side, quickly tying the game at three. Walker’s day came to an end, and he was relieved by left-hander Evan Byers. Byers then allowed an RBI-single to right fielder Ethan Lizama, giving the ‘Toppers their first lead of the game.
The hits just kept on coming for Marc Rardin’s team, as Western then dinged right-hander Scott Rouse for two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a Reid Howard RBI sac-fly and a Carlos Vasquez RBI-double.
In a game that felt eerily similar to Kentucky’s midweek loss to Samford last season, Western Kentucky had suddenly jumped out to a 6-3 advantage.
Kentucky falls at The Hill
After Kentucky went down in order in the top of the seventh, a near two and a half hour weather delay was implemented.
Freshman left-hander Leighton Harris came out of the delay strong and forced three quick outs, but the Kentucky offense was unable to respond. The ‘Cats were down to their final three outs in the top of the ninth, where Hudson Brown led off the frame with his second double of the game. He however got caught in a fielder’s choice, putting one out on the board.
Luke Lawrence, who reached on the fielder’s choice, and a pinch-hitting Devin Burkes were put on base with Tyler Bell to bat as the game-tying run. Bell delivered with an RBI-single to make it a two-run game but was injured rounding first base. He was tended two by trainers and was taken out of the game.
With runners on the corners, Kyuss Gargett however popped up to end the game. After mastering midweek games over the last two seasons, Kentucky has now dropped four midweek games this season (Murray State, Xavier, Louisville and Western Kentucky).
What’s next for Kentucky?
Following its trip to Bowling Green, Kentucky will travel to Starkville, MS for a three-game series against Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field this weekend. The Bulldogs, who just fired head coach Chris Lemonis on Monday, are currently on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.
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