Kentucky holds off Miami (OH) 4-3 in yet another close game

Needing a mid-week victory in the worst way, Kentucky walked-off Miami (OH) 4-3 Tuesday night at Kentucky Proud Park to improve to 20-14 on the season. Prior to Tuesday’s win, the ‘Cats had lost three consecutive midweek games (Murray State, Xavier, No. 17 Louisville). 14 of their last 19 games have now been contested within three runs or less (5-9).

In the win, the ‘Cats totaled seven hits from five different batters. Senior first baseman Dylan Koontz was one of two Kentucky batters with multiple hits, as he went 2-4 at the plate with two doubles and one RBI. Kyuss Gargett was the other, as he went 2-4 with two singles.

Kentucky has now won three games this season via a walk-off, with two coming via a bunt (Griffin Cameron vs. No. 2 Texas and Ethan Hindle vs. Miami OH).

Junior left-hander Ethan Walker made his seventh start of the season and held Miami (OH) to just one hit and no runs with five strikeouts over four innings. Freshman left-hander Leighton Harris allowed three runs on three hits in just 1/3 inning, but relievers Nile Adcock and Cole Hentschel kept the Redhawks scoreless over the final 3 2/3 innings to give their offense a chance to walk it off.

Dylan Koontz fuels ‘Cats to 3-0 advantage

Kentucky first baseman Dylan Koontz, who hadn’t started a game since March 18, got off to a great start on Tuesday and helped the ‘Cats jump out to a 3-0 lead.

With Tyler Bell on third base following a first inning double, Koontz drilled an RBI-double to the center field fence as Miami (OH) center fielder Anthony Zarlingo briefly lost the ball in the sun. Bell totaled his team-leading 13th double of the season, which is tied for third most in the SEC.

E1 | 1-0, UK@BellTyler28 hits his team-leading 13th double by busting out of the box and never slowing down. Created a run after @DylanKoontz3 smokes a double.

Watch – @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/4H4mDTeVTs

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 15, 2025

Starting left-hander Ethan Walker held the Redhawks scoreless over the first four innings, giving the ‘Cats another opportunity to extend their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Koontz stayed hot, as he led off the half inning with another double to right center. He was moved to third on a Kyuss Gargett bunt single, and scored on a Cole Hage RBI-groundout.

Hage’s RBI-groundout was unusual, as it hit off the knob of his bat and dribbled into foul play. Nonetheless, it was now 2-0 Kentucky. The ‘Cats weren’t done scoring yet in the middle innings however, as a Luke Lawrence RBI sac-fly in the bottom of the fifth made it 3-0 Kentucky.

Redhawks tie it up in the sixth

Kentucky’s 3-0 advantage didn’t last long, as the Redhawk lineup took advantage of freshman left-hander Leighton Harris for a three-run sixth inning.

Power-hitting first baseman Evan Appelwick opened the frame with a leadoff infield single, and was followed by a Ty Batusich single to center field. Harris then loaded the bases after plunking catcher David Novak, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.

Left fielder Ryan Novak (not related to David) drove home Miami’s first run via an RBI-fielder’s choice, and then third baseman Dominic Krupinski brought home one more with an RBI-single.

Trailing by just one run now, right-hander Nile Adcock took over on the mound for Harris. Catcher Raphael Pelletier however was unable to get in front of a wild pitch from Adcock, allowing Krupinski to score from third to tie the game at 3-3. Suddenly, the ‘Cats seemed to be in jeopardy of losing their fourth consecutive mid-week game.

Kentucky walks if off

Following a fourth inning bunt-single hit by Kyuss Gargett, Kentucky was held hitless until the bottom of the ninth by the Miami (OH) pitching staff. Miami (OH) R-senior right-hander Ahmad Harajli was extremely dominant, as he allowed three hits and struck out six different Wildcats in his 3 2/3 innings of work.

Gargett was the batter to break the hitless streak with one out in the bottom of the ninth, putting a runner on base with Cole Hage to bat. Coaching from third base, Nick Mingione then employed the hit and run perfectly as Gargett took off as Hage lofted a single to center field to move the runner to third.

With runners on first and second following a delayed steal by Hage, Ethan Hindle was brought to the plate with a chance to walk it off. He delivered with a RBI-bunt that popped out of the glove of Miami (OH) third baseman Dominic Krupinski into foul territory, giving the Cats the win.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Kentucky will continue to run the gauntlet in the SEC, as it travels to No. 2 Tennessee this upcoming weekend for a three-game series. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.