Big Blue Bombs Away: Kentucky Shuts Out No. 11 Tennessee

[Matt Dillon]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 15 Kentucky smashed nearly 2,000 feet of home runs, outlasted an hour and 55-minute rain delay and became the first team to shut out Tennessee since 2021 in a 10-0 Mother’s Day victory at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

It is UK’s 11^th true road victory of the season – most in the conference – and guarantees the Wildcats will finish at least .500 in Southeastern Conference play.

Kentucky now is 35-15 overall and 15-12 in the SEC.

Kentucky jumped to a 4-0 lead on the strength of home runs by Hunter Gilliam and Grant Smith before lightning delayed the contest nearly two hours and forced starter Zack Lee, who had thrown two shutout innings, from the contest. Darren Williams did the yeoman’s work after the delay, tossing four shutout innings and wriggling out of trouble numerous times with help from a superior defensive effort.

The Cats hit a season-high five home runs, including back-to-back bombs from Devin Burkes and James McCoy in the eighth to put the game away. Burkes and Smith each had two homers in the series and McCoy now has homered in four of the last seven.
​
Big Blue Bombs Away: Kentucky Shuts Out No. 11 Tennessee – UK Athletics​

[Matt Dillon]

It makes one wonder why they didn't play similar to this the first two games? Two weekends in a row they've avoided the sweep. This team seems to play better when their backs are against the wall.

[Lighthouse]

It makes one wonder why they didn't play similar to this the first two games? Two weekends in a row they've avoided the sweep. This team seems to play better when their backs are against the wall.

I think UT used their best pitchers in the first 2 games, and UK waited and used Lee yesterday. But you're right.