Kentucky Holds Off Missouri for Second SEC Sweep of Season
Sunday’s final game of the three-game series was a bit closer than Friday and Saturday’s run rulings, but the ‘Cats held on for a gutsy 3-1 win over Missouri on Sunday, ensuring its first sweep over the Tigers in program history.
With the win, Kentucky baseball improves to 25-3 on the season with an 8-1 SEC record. After being picked sixth in the SEC East in the Preseason Coaches Poll, Kentucky is now tied for second in the division as of April 2. What a start to the year for the Bat ‘Cats.
“I had some people in the media group [asking me why I was being very optimistic about my team this year]. Just being around these guys from the fall, they just went about their business,” Head coach Nick Mingione said postgame. “We have a bunch of guys who are just really hungry and they have to be. I just knew how competitive they were going to be.”
Senior RHP Zack Lee made his seventh start of the season for the ‘Cats on Sunday. It was an odd outing for Lee, but mostly positive. Lee pitched 4.1 innings, allowing just four hits, one earned run and three strikeouts. He didn’t allow a Mizzou hit until the fourth inning. Lee, however, continued with some accuracy issues, walking three batters in this one. He has walked three-plus batters in each of his last three outings.
Slow Start for Both Teams
Kentucky’s Lee and Mizzou’s Chandler Murphy dominated the first two innings of this one. The ‘Cats had scored four-plus runs in the first two games of the series, but were held to just one hit through two on Sunday.
After yet another hitless half-inning from Zack Lee in the top of the third, Kentucky capitalized on some Mizzou miscues to get on the board first. Jackson Gray notched the Wildcats’ second hit of the day, a single, to start the inning. Gray took second on an errant throw by the Missouri catcher, putting a RISP for Jase Felker. Felker laced a hot shot to Mizzou 1B Hank Ziesler, who completely misplayed it. It was almost Bill Buckner-like for Ziesler, as the grounder went right under his glove and into right field. Gray floated around the bases and scored easily. The ‘Cats went up 1-0 early.
After falling behind one in the bottom of the third, Mizzou responded in the top of the fifth. Lee struggled in his final inning on the mound, as it began with a leadoff single surrendered to Justin Colon. A wild pitch from Lee allowed Colon to swipe second, ultimately allowing him to score on a Trevor Austin RBI single. This would be Lee’s final batter faced, as he was replaced by Jackson Nove. Nove and Mason Moore cleaned up nicely, allowing no more damage in the inning.
“G-Money” Grant Smith broke the tie in the bottom of the inning. Nolan McCarthy kicked off the inning with a single and was advanced to second on a Kendal Ewell sac-bunt. Following his advancement to third on a wild pitch, Smith laced an RBI single to right center field to break the tie.
Wildcat Defense Shines
On two separate occasions, great defensive plays by the Wildcats protected the Kentucky lead.
After Kentucky took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers looked to respond in the sixth. Zeisler walked to kick off the inning and advanced to third on a Carlos Pena single to center field. Pena then advanced to second on a Ty Wilmsmeyer sac-bunt, putting runners on second and third for Colon. Colon belted a hot grounder to the right of Hunter Gilliam at first base. Gilliam made a nice diving grab, got up, and stepped on the bag before Colon to end the inning and prevent the game-tying Mizzou score.
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After yet another scoreless Wildcat inning, the Tigers threatened to knot this one back up again in the top of the eighth. After laying down a sac-bunt in his last at-bat, Wilmsmeyer doubled down the left field line to kick off the inning for Mizzou. Hise struck out Colon on three pitches before intentionally walking arguably Mizzou’s best hitter Luke Mann.
With runners on first and second, Trevor Austin laced a line drive to center field. If it had gotten down, one or two runs may have scored for the Tigers. Instead, Jackson Gray made a phenomenal diving grab to ensure the ‘Cats stayed in front. Defense wins games.
Kentucky Holds on for Series Sweep
Despite being held scoreless since the fifth, the Wildcats were soon gifted an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. After Jackson Gray beat out an infield single to kick off the inning, Jase Felker was plunked and Devin Burkes was walked to load the bases for Émilien Pitre. Petey was walked on a full count, which allowed Gray to trot home for the score.
Things got hairy for the ‘Cats in the top of the ninth. Ryan Hagenow entered to earn his second save of the season, but things didn’t exactly go to plan. Hage started the inning with a strikeout but quickly loaded the bases for the Tigers. Seth Chavez took over for Hagenow and forced a pop-fly in foul territory to ensure the win for the resilient ‘Cats.
“[Fan support] has been awesome,” Coach Mingione told KSR. “I told our team at the beginning of the year, you’ve got to win and you’ve got to have good weather. Our administration added some beer in there so that definitely helps.”
The Bat ‘Cats will be back in action on Tuesday when they welcome the Dayton Flyers to Kentucky Proud Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.
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