Zack Lee dazzles in Kentucky Baseball's must-need win over Vanderbilt

Coming off one of the more embarrassing losses the Kentucky baseball program could take, Zack Lee stepped up for the Bat Cats and kept the Commodores at bay while the offense scratched out just enough to grab a 3-2 and tie the series up.

Same story on a different day

As much as being no-hit on Friday demoralizes and exhausts a team out, it’s only made worse when you have to go up against one of the top recruits in the nation the next day.

Perfect Game had Carter Holton tabbed as the top left-handed pitcher in the 2021 high school class and he sure looked the part on Saturday until fading late. The freshman went five innings, keeping Kentucky hitless over the first few frames. The ‘Cats were able to do just enough though to scratch out a few runs.

His first mistake came in the fourth inning where Adam Fogel launched a two-run, two-out shot over the left-center fence to tie the game up at a pair.

A two-out, two-run homer gives Vandy the lead. @adamfogel55
lifts off to tie it.

E4 | UK 2, VU 2 pic.twitter.com/yBnsTu3BLq

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 23, 2022

Ryan Ritter followed up in the fifth inning with a RBI single through the second base hole to give the ‘Cats their first lead of the weekend.

“We know what we can do so we came out here confident and strong,” Ritter said postgame. “We know we can get a win in and keep going after this one.”

The bats weren’t scorching by any means on Saturday, only grabbing four hits. They did just enough to help pick up the win though, which is all that matters.

“Last night, as we all know isn’t the ‘Cats way and the way our guys came out and responded and to be able to come back and stay on the attack,” Head Coach Nick Mingione said after the win. “I love the way that when they scored, we came right back and scored. That’s what this team has done, that’s us at our best.”

Zack Lee continues to shine

One of the more underappreciated storylines this season has been the resurgence of Zack Lee. Reporters and analysts have always been enamored by his actual stuff on the mound, the righty had just never been able to put it together.

We may be seeing him do quite exactly that this season. Relegated to the bullpen to begin the year, Lee was only making his second start of the season against Vanderbilt. The junior did a fantastic job limiting a Commodore lineup that terrorized the ‘Cats on Friday.

He finished with two earned runs and six hits in five innings of work, fanning four in the process. His season ERA now sits at 3.72 in just over 19 innings on the mound.

It started to become a little nerve-racking when Lee went out for the sixth and allowed the first two runners to reach base. Fortunately, though, Tyler Guilfoil came in relief and kept Vandy off the board.

The Lafayette High School product continued his stellar season with four scoreless innings while striking out four en route to closing out the game himself.

“That guy is a warrior,” Mingione said about Guilfoil. “He’s been big for us all season and he was big for us today.”

GuilFUEL shuts it down again! ⛽️

M7 | UK 3, Vandy 2 pic.twitter.com/DvZqrXZDsC

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 23, 2022

Picking up a series victory against Vanderbilt would be absolutely massive for the Wildcats. Not only just in the standings but in terms of confidence for the rest of the season. The hopes of getting to the postseason are slimming, but it’s far from impossible if the ‘Cats can get on a run.

First pitch on Sunday is set for 1 p.m. EST and the contest will be shown on the SEC Network+.