LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ryan Waldschmidt drove in six runs, hometown kid Ryan Nicholson drove in three more and No. 3 Kentucky outlasted Louisville 17-13 in a slugfest at Jim Patterson Stadium on Tuesday night to claim state bragging rights for 2024.
Waldschmidt led off the game with a solo shot to center and later added both a two-run double and three-run 463-foot behemoth blast that exited the stadium. His six RBI tied the six Ryan Ritter had in the Cats’ 2021 victory at Louisville. Nicholson, who played his high school ball at St. Xavier in Louisville, belted his seventh home run in the past six games in front of a bevy of family and friends.
Mitchell Daly added a home run, Nick Lopez added three more hits to boost his season average back over .400 and Austin Fawley connected on a two-run double as UK (31-5) added two five-run and a four-run inning.
The teams played plinko early before the Cats jumped out to an eight-run lead and after the Cardinals cut into the deficit, a 10-run advantage. More than four hours after first pitch UK finally celebrated its 19th win in the past 21 games.
The Wildcats open one of the most anticipated series in their history when No. 2 Tennessee arrive on Friday. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed on the SECN+ and there will be an audio broadcast via the UK Sports Network.
Ryan(s) Report: Ryan Waldschmidt, Ryan Nicholson Pace No. 3 Kentucky – UK Athletics
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Waldschmidt led off the game with a solo shot to center and later added both a two-run double and three-run 463-foot behemoth blast that exited the stadium. His six RBI tied the six Ryan Ritter had in the Cats’ 2021 victory at Louisville. Nicholson, who played his high school ball at St. Xavier in Louisville, belted his seventh home run in the past six games in front of a bevy of family and friends.
Mitchell Daly added a home run, Nick Lopez added three more hits to boost his season average back over .400 and Austin Fawley connected on a two-run double as UK (31-5) added two five-run and a four-run inning.
The teams played plinko early before the Cats jumped out to an eight-run lead and after the Cardinals cut into the deficit, a 10-run advantage. More than four hours after first pitch UK finally celebrated its 19th win in the past 21 games.
The Wildcats open one of the most anticipated series in their history when No. 2 Tennessee arrive on Friday. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed on the SECN+ and there will be an audio broadcast via the UK Sports Network.
Ryan(s) Report: Ryan Waldschmidt, Ryan Nicholson Pace No. 3 Kentucky – UK Athletics
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