No. 9 Ole Miss uses ninth inning home run to down Kentucky 3-1

Following its walk-off victory in the opening game of the series, Kentucky fell to No. 9 Ole Miss 3-1 in game two of the Friday doubleheader. Both teams were tied at one apiece until the top of the ninth inning, where Rebel pinch-hitter Campbell Smithwick propelled them ahead for good with a two-run home run.

The Wildcat offense cooled off tremendously in the second game, as they totaled just one run on four hits. Just three different Kentucky batters totaled a hit, while Patrick Herrera was the lone batter with two.

Kentucky and No. 9 Ole Miss will now meet in the series finale on Saturday to determine the weekend winner.

Pitcher’s duel dominates Friday night

Senior right-hander Nic McCay got the start for Kentucky in the second game of the doubleheader, while left-hander Riley Maddox started for Ole Miss.

Both pitchers were on their A-game, as they posted near similar pitching lines. McCay allowed three hits and one run with six strikeouts in four innings, while Maddox allowed four hits and one run with six strikeouts in five innings.

Kentucky’s lone run through seven innings came in the bottom of the second inning, as Devin Burkes roped an RBI-single to left field which was reminiscent of his walk-off hit in the first game of the doubleheader. Ole Miss responded in the top of the fourth inning, as a Hayden Federico RBI sac-fly brought home Isaac Humphrey from third.

Senior right-hander Scott Rouse relieved McCay in the fifth inning and pitched well too. In three innings on the mound, Rouse allowed just three hits and kept the Rebels scoreless. He put two Ole Miss players on base with one out in the top of the eighth, but senior left-hander Evan Byers entered and got the ‘Cats out of the inning.

Although Kentucky got a great pitching performance out of its staff Friday night, its offense failed to show up.

Ole Miss steals one in Lexington

The Wildcat pitching staff, which has been unstable this season, did a great job holding Ole Miss to just one run until the top of the ninth inning.

Hayden Federico, who drove in Ole Miss’ lone run of the game in the fourth inning, opened the ninth with a single to left field. He was then moved to second on a groundout by Austin Fawley, bringing up pinch-hitter Campbell Smithwick.

Smithwick made Kentucky reliever right-hander Nile Adcock pay, as he smashed a two-run home run to give the Rebels a 3-1 lead.

The ‘Cats had a chance to notch their second walk-off win of the day in the the bottom of the ninth inning, but Brown, Bell and Herrera all struck out to end the game.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Kentucky and No. 9 Ole Miss will return to Kentucky Proud Park on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. EST for the series finale.