Kentucky overcomes early deficit for 15-13 victory over South Carolina
No. 4 Kentucky fell behind 6-1 following a nightmare first inning, but scored 11 unanswered runs to hold off No. 20 South Carolina 15-13 Saturday night.
The Gamecocks loaded the bases down two in the ninth, but Nolan McCarthy made a great catch in center field to secure the win.
All nine Wildcat batters finished with at least one hit, while five finished with two or more. Eight of nine Kentucky players also recorded at least one RBI, led by Grant Smith’s season-high four.
Ryan Waldschmidt continued his scorching hot streak Saturday night, going 4-6 at the plate with a double and an RBI-single. Waldschmidt is now 27/52 in his last 52 at-bats (.519) with seven home runs, five doubles, and 19 RBI. He also extended his hit streak to 12 games and his multi-hit game streak to eight games.
Ryan Nicholson‘s power surge continued as well, as the grad transfer blasted two solo home runs. Nicholson has hit 10 home runs over Kentucky’s last 11 games, bringing his season total to 14.
Kentucky improves to 33-8 (16-4) and snaps its three-game losing streak, which was its longest of the season. Kentucky’s lead over Tennessee atop the SEC East remains at two games.
Players of the Game:
- LF Ryan Waldschmidt: Waldschmidt continues to play at an All-SEC level, going 4-6 with a double and an RBI-single.
- 1B Ryan Nicholson: Nicholson blasted two home runs in a game for the fourth time this season, bringing his season total to 14.
- SS Grant Smith: Smith went 2-4 at the plate with a season-high four RBI.
Cats fall into early hole as Niman struggles again
Kentucky took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Ryan Waldschmidt scored from third on a Grant Smith infield single. In the latter half inning however, the Cats would fall into an early five-run deficit for the second consecutive Saturday.
Left-hander Dominic Niman made his 11th start of the season for Kentucky on Saturday and struggled once again.
His struggles started early, as the lefty gave up singles to two of his first three batters faced. After getting two outs on strikeouts however, Niman plunked South Carolina’s Blake Jackson to load the bases.
Jackson took offense to this, as he hit two home runs Friday night, including the walk-off two-run bomb. Words were exchanged, but that was as far as things would go there.
Following this situation however, Niman gave up run-scoring singles to four of his next five batters faced. Carolina brought in six runs, taking a demanding 6-1 first inning lead. Saturday marked Niman’s second consecutive start where he failed to reach the second inning.
Over his last two starts, Niman allowed 11 hits and 11 earned runs in one inning of action.
Six unanswered for Kentucky propels Cats ahead in fourth
After falling behind 6-1 however, Kentucky dominated the remainder of the game.
Mitch Daly and Ryan Nicholson kicked off the fourth inning with back-to-back solo home runs, bringing the Cats within three. The bases were then loaded after James McCoy reached on an error, Ryan Waldschmidt doubled, and Émilien Pitre was intentionally walked.
Grant Smith made the Gamecocks regret the intentional walk, as the shortstop lined a two-run single up the middle to tie the game.
Émilien Pitre capped off the big inning by stealing home, propelling Kentucky to a 7-6 lead.
Red-hot Wildcat offense puts up five more runs in fifth
Kentucky wasn’t done scoring, as they put up back-to-back five run frames in the fifth inning.
After Mitch Daly flew out to open the inning, Ryan Nicholson did what he does best. Mash baseballs.
On an 0-2 count, Nicholson belted a no-doubt solo shot to deep center field. The grad transfer has now hit 10 home runs in Kentucky’s last 11 games.
The long balls weren’t done flying out of Founders Park, as James McCoy broke out of a 2-30 slump with a solo home run just two batters later.
The Gamecock pitching staff continued to struggle, as Kentucky loaded the bases with two outs on a Devin Burkes hit by pitch and back-to-back singles from Ryan Waldschmidt and Émilien Pitre. Grant Smith, who put the Cats ahead earlier in the game, was walked with the bases loaded to bring in another run.
Kentucky’s batting leader Nick Lopez capped off the inning with a two-run single, notching his first hit of the game. Suddenly, the Cats had doubled up Carolina in a wet and rainy contest.
Bat Cats hold on to even series
Kentucky right-hander Robert Hogan gave up a three-run home run to Carolina’s Cole Messina in the sixth inning, which started the run of five unanswered for the Gamecocks.
Righty reliever Cam O’Brien replaced Hogan and struck out six of his first seven batters faced, but exited after giving up a single and a double. Two more Carolina runs scored in the eighth, making it a one-run game.
The red-hot Wildcat offense however put up three insurance runs in the ninth, as a Ryan Waldschmidt RBI-single and a two-run single from Émilien Pitre propelled the Cats back to a four-run lead.
Left-hander Jackson Nove took the mound in the ninth and loaded the bases, bringing home a run after plunking Cole Messina, ending his night.
Right-hander Ryan Hagenow entered in relief and walked home another run, but forced a game-ending flyout with the bases loaded to ensure the Wildcat win.
Everybody breathe. Cats win.
What’s next for No. 4 Kentucky?
The Cats will look to take the series over the Gamecocks Sunday at 3:00 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
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