Emilien Pitre notched his 100th career hit (and 101 and 102) in just his 93rd career game and knocked in four runs to lead No. 21 Kentucky to an 11-3 comeback victory over Evansville on a blustery Tuesday night at Kentucky Proud Park.
UK (18-3) scored 11 unanswered runs over the final five innings after falling behind 3-0 in the top of the fifth. It is the third time in the last five games the Wildcats have score 10 or more unanswered runs. The Cats next travel to Missouri for a series that begins Friday night in Columbia, Missouri.
Pitre pulled a hard grounder through the infield in the first inning for his 100th hit, then added a booming double and another single later to finish the night 3-for-4 with a walk. He also stole three bases, the first UK player to do that since Cam Hill vs. Florida in 2021.
James McCoy also drove in a pair of runs with as part of a seven-run sixth inning and Nolan McCarthy added an RBI double off the left field wall.
On the mound, freshman lefty Ben Cleaver earned the win in relief behind a solid outing from starter Drew Lafferty (4.1 innings, one run). Cleaver, Robert Hogan, Cooper Robinson and Johnny Hummel allowed just two hits and struck out six over the final four scoreless innings.
The Wildcats hit the road for a SEC weekend series at Missouri that opens Friday night. The contest between the Cats and the Tigers will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night and will be streamed on the SECN+, with radio coverage available on 98.5 FM (Lexington) and UKAthletics.com.
No. 21 Kentucky Deals the Aces 11-3 Defeat Behind Pitre’s Big Night – UK Athletics
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UK (18-3) scored 11 unanswered runs over the final five innings after falling behind 3-0 in the top of the fifth. It is the third time in the last five games the Wildcats have score 10 or more unanswered runs. The Cats next travel to Missouri for a series that begins Friday night in Columbia, Missouri.
Pitre pulled a hard grounder through the infield in the first inning for his 100th hit, then added a booming double and another single later to finish the night 3-for-4 with a walk. He also stole three bases, the first UK player to do that since Cam Hill vs. Florida in 2021.
James McCoy also drove in a pair of runs with as part of a seven-run sixth inning and Nolan McCarthy added an RBI double off the left field wall.
On the mound, freshman lefty Ben Cleaver earned the win in relief behind a solid outing from starter Drew Lafferty (4.1 innings, one run). Cleaver, Robert Hogan, Cooper Robinson and Johnny Hummel allowed just two hits and struck out six over the final four scoreless innings.
The Wildcats hit the road for a SEC weekend series at Missouri that opens Friday night. The contest between the Cats and the Tigers will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night and will be streamed on the SECN+, with radio coverage available on 98.5 FM (Lexington) and UKAthletics.com.
No. 21 Kentucky Deals the Aces 11-3 Defeat Behind Pitre’s Big Night – UK Athletics
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