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Red-hot Kentucky dominates No. 19 Louisville 17-5 to take Battle for the Bluegrass

IMG_8756by:Daniel Hager•04/22/25•

DanielHagerKSR

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Photo by Crawford Ifland | Kentucky Sports Radio

In front of the biggest crowd of the season at Kentucky Proud Park Tuesday night, Kentucky run-ruled No. 19 Louisville 17-5 to earn its seventh Top-25 victory of the season. Don’t look now, but the ‘Cats are starting to heat up as the end of SEC play approaches.

With the win, Kentucky breaks the 27-27 series tie (since 1995) and earns its 28th win over the ‘Cards in the modern era. The ‘Cats also improve to 16-12 against Louisville at Cliff Hagan Stadium/Kentucky Proud Park (modern era), and earn their ninth win over a ranked Louisville team since 2003.

Senior third baseman Patrick Herrera had a big night at the plate, as he hit a solo home run, a bases clearing triple and an RBI-single to drive in a career-best five RBIs. Seven different ‘Cats notched at least one hit, while four different players drove in multiple runs (Herrera, Tyler Bell, Kyuss Gargett and Carson Hansen).

Junior left-hander Ethan Walker enjoyed the best start of the season so far, as he allowed six hits and just two runs with a season-best six strikeouts over four innings. He was relieved by four pitchers (Rouse, Adcock, Hunter, Smith), who combined to allow three hits and three earned runs over the final three innings.

Carson Hansen lifts ‘Cats to early lead

Kentucky starting left-hander Ethan Walker held Louisville scoreless in the opening half inning, bringing the Wildcat lineup to the plate in the bottom of the first.

With one out in the inning, Kyuss Gargett just missed a home run with a double off the left field fence. Since becoming a regular fixture in the Kentucky lineup on April 12, the sophomore had notched hits in eight of his 24 at-bats (.333) following his double. Hudson Brown was then walked, putting runners on first and second with still just one out.

The ‘Cats got a major break early, as Patrick Herrera had seemingly grounded into an inning-ending double play. A pitch clock violation however was called on Louisville left-hander TJ Schlageter, keeping the inning alive. Herrera was then plunked, loading the bases with one out. Carson Hansen then delivered the first run of the game with an RBI sac-fly to left field, giving Kentucky an early 1-0 advantage.

Following its first inning run, Kentucky has now led first in six of its last seven games.

Blinding sun in center field leads to three Kentucky runs

The second inning didn’t seem to be anything special at first, as Cole Hage reached second following a walk and a wild pitch but two outs were recorded. Tyler Bell however continued to add to his phenomenal freshman campaign, as he snuck an RBI-single to right field to bring home Kentucky’s second run of the game.

Following a four-pitch walk to Kyuss Gargett, Louisville’s Schlageter’s day came to an end. He was relieved by left-hander Casen Murphy. Murphy’s first faced batter was a struggle as well, as he also walked Hudson Brown on four pitches. With the bases loaded, Patrick Herrera was brought to the plate with a chance to extend Kentucky’s lead.

Herrera lifted a 3-2 pitch to center field, which Louisville outfielder Lucas Moore lost in the sun. The ball rolled right past him to the center field fence, clearing the bases to give Kentucky a 5-0 lead. It was ruled a triple, the second of his Kentucky career.

‘Cats pour on four more runs in fun fourth inning

Louisville scored a run in both the third and fourth innings, and Kentucky scored again in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a bases-loaded Kyuss Gargett hit by pitch. Boasting what was now a 6-2 lead, Kentucky contributed its second four-run frame in the fourth to extend its lead to eight runs.

Patrick Herrera, who brought home three runs in the second inning with a triple, led off the bottom of the fourth with a 411-foot solo home run over the left field fence, driving home his career-best fourth run of the game. Following his solo shot, Carson Hansen and Ryan Schwartz were walked and Luke Lawrence singled to quickly load the bases.

Cole Hage brought home another run with an RBI sac-fly to left field, and Raphael Pelletier was plunked to reload the bases. Tyler Bell was walked to bring home Schwartz, and Kyuss Gargett then grounded out to bring home Lawrence. Suddenly, Kentucky was rolling by eight at Kentucky Proud Park.

Kentucky explodes for seven runs to cap off dominant win

Louisville scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to five, but Kentucky exploded for seven more runs in the bottom of the inning to bury the ‘Cards five feet deep into the Kentucky Proud Park turf.

Patrick Herrera led off the half inning with a walk and was immediately brought home by a 389-foot Carson Hansen two-run home run that must’ve traveled all the way to Richmond.

Louisville’s pitching then continued to struggle, as the bases were loaded following two HBP’s and a walk. Raphael Pelletier was then plunked to bring home Ryan Schwartz, and then Tyler Bell grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice to score Luke Lawrence.

The inning was capped off by an RBI-single from Kyuss Gargett, a Tyler Bell score on a wild pitch, and a Patrick Herrera RBI-single. Herrera drove in his fifth run of the game and became a double away from the cycle, but was pulled to open the sixth.

“We played them obviously a couple of weeks ago and it left a sour taste in our mouth,” Herrera said postgame. “We were really fired up playing in front of all these fans. That gets us juiced up and we were ready to go.”

Relievers Tristan Hunter and Hayden Smith pitched the sixth and seventh innings and held Louisville to no runs, ensuring the run-rule victory following the seventh inning.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Following its win over No. 19 Louisville Tuesday night, Kentucky will host South Carolina in its seventh SEC series of the season this weekend. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.

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2025-05-02