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Kentucky holds off Texas A&M 14-11 in College Station slugfest

IMG_8756by:Daniel Hager•03/29/25•

DanielHagerKSR

Kentucky-holds-off-Texas-AM-College-Station-slugfest
Kentucky's Ethan Hindle (Photo via UK Athletics)

Kentucky bounced back from a disappointing loss on Friday with a high-scoring 14-11 win over Texas A&M on Saturday, ending its two-game skid. The ‘Cats improve to 16-9 (3-5) on the season with the win.

It was an extremely windy day in College Station, as nine total home runs were hit between both teams (four by Kentucky). The ‘Cats trailed 6-5 until the sixth inning, where they exploded for six runs on three hits to take an 11-6 lead. Texas A&M crawled back to within one with a Bear Harrison grand slam in the seventh, but a Tyler Bell two-run home run and an Ethan Hindle solo shot in the eighth slammed the door shut on the Aggies.

The freshman Bell had another big day at the plate for Kentucky, as he went 4-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI. He is now hitting for a .340 average this season, which ranks seventh in the SEC among freshmen.

Senior right-hander Nic McCay had what may have been his worst start of the season, as he surrendered five hits (four home runs) and six earned runs in four innings. Seven relief pitchers followed McCay and surrendered six hits and four earned runs over the final five innings. The red-hot Wildcat offense however was able stave off unstable relief pitching to secure the win.

Players of the Game:

  • Freshman SS Tyler Bell: Bell went 4-4 at the plate with a double, a home run and four RBI, strengthening his batting average to .340.
  • Redshirt Fifth Year C Devin Burkes: Kentucky’s catcher drove in three runs on Saturday thanks to a two-run home run and an RBI-single.
  • Sophomore DH Ethan Hindle: Hindle belted a solo home run in the eighth inning to help secure the win for Kentucky.

Aggies immediately dash early Wildcat lead

Just as it did in Friday’s series opener, Kentucky took an early lead in the opening frame on Saturday.

Two quick outs were recorded, but Tyler Bell singled to left field with Cole Hage on first (following a walk) to keep the top of the first inning alive. This brought up Patrick Herrera, who has been one of Kentucky’s most consistent batters this season.

Herrera delivered once again, as he lofted an RBI-single to shallow left field to bring home Hage from second. This lead didn’t last long however, as the top of the A&M lineup quickly regained the lead.

Nic McCay, who got the start for Kentucky, recorded two quick outs on just five pitches thrown in the bottom of the first. He however left a 2-1 meatball over the plate for Texas A&M’s Jace LaViolette, who belted a solo home run over the right field wall to tie the game.

LaViolette notched his 57th career home run, which is now the most in Texas A&M program history.

McCay then surrendered a walk, bringing sophomore Caden Sorrell to the plate. Sorrell, who was named a Preseason Second Team All-SEC selection, had not played at all this season. He made the most of his first at-bat, as he lofted a two-run home run to right field to give the Aggies a 3-1 lead.

TAMU and UK trade long balls

After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the red-hot Luke Lawrence opened the third with a single up the middle. Following that single, the Illinois State transfer had notched his sixth hit in his last 10 at-bats (two doubles, a triple and three RBI).

With Lawrence on first, Cole Hage continued to show why he’s been Kentucky’s best player this season. Hage knocked a two-run home run over the right field wall, propelling the ‘Cats back in front. Hage homered in Friday’s loss and now has eight long balls on the season.

Kentucky’s lead once again disappeared, as A&M’s Wyatt Henseler opened the bottom of the third with a leadoff home run to re-tie the game. Henseler is the active home run leader in all of College Baseball.

The ‘Cats jumped back in front in the top of the fourth thanks to a Devin Burkes two-run blast, but they then surrendered the lead again in the latter half of the inning by allowing a two-run home run to A&M’s Ben Royo. Through four innings, the lead changed hands four different times. Heading into the sixth inning, the Aggies led 6-5.

Kentucky explodes for six runs in exciting sixth inning

Trailing by one, Kentucky exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth inning to take an 11-6 lead.

Texas A&M left-hander Justin Lamkin plunked Patrick Herrera to open the sixth inning, ending his day on the mound. Right-hander Clayton Freshcorn relieved Lamkin mid at-bat and walked Ethan Hindle, giving the walk to Lamkin. Griffin Cameron then reached first on a perfectly executed bunt, loading the bases for the ‘Cats.

Devin Burkes‘ big day at the plate continued, as Kentucky’s leader knocked a softly hit RBI-single to center field, tying the game at six. Shaun Montoya was then hit with the bases loaded, allowing Hindle to trot home from third. Montoya however wouldn’t be the only player to be hit with the bases loaded in the frame.

After a Luke Lawrence RBI sac-fly allowed Cameron to score from third, Cole Hage drew a walk to reload the bases. Hudson Brown was then plunked with the bases juiced, bringing home another Wildcat free run.

Tyler Bell capped off the big inning with a two-run single down the third base line, which brought home two more Kentucky runs to make it an 11-6 game. With that single, Bell notched his third hit of the game in three at-bats. Over the span of just one half inning, Kentucky went from one down to five up.

‘Cats hold off Fightin’ Aggies

Clinging to its 11-6 lead, this game was far from over for Kentucky.

Right-hander Tommy Skelding, who followed McCay on the mound for the Wildcats, quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh before his exit. He was replaced by right-hander Simon Gregersen, who has been less than stellar this season.

This move would come back to bite Nick Mingione, as A&M’s superstar freshman Bear Harrison belted a grand slam to pull the Aggies within one. Left-hander Cole Hentschel got the ‘Cats out of the frame with a one-run lead, but A&M were right on their tails.

Two of Kentucky’s younger players however were able to shut the door on Texas A&M in the eighth. With Hudson Brown on first following a single, Tyler Bell cemented what was his best game of the season. The freshman belted a two-run shot over the left field wall, extending Kentucky’s lead back out to three runs.

Ethan Hindle followed Bell with a home run of his own, a solo shot to make it a four-run game. Texas A&M loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and brought the game-tying run to the plate, but left-handed reliever Evan Byers forced a big-time fly-out by Blake Binderup to get out of the jam.

Kentucky was held scoreless in the top of the ninth, bringing left-hander Ethan Walker (who had started five games this season) to the mound in the bottom half of the inning. Walker, in his first relief appearance of the season, loaded the bases with two outs but right-hander James McCoy entered and allowed just one run to secure the win.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Kentucky and Texas A&M will clash in the series finale on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. EST. The winner will claim their first SEC series victory of the season.

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2025-03-31