COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 19 South Carolina hit four home runs over the final two innings, including two pinch hit blasts in the ninth, to walk off No. 4 Kentucky 6-5 in 10 innings at Founders Park on a two-run shot to end the game. It represented the first time this season UK has dropped three straight games.
The Wildcats (32-8, 15-4 Southeastern Conference) scored three runs in the top of the ninth to bust open what had been a pitcher’s duel. It was vintage UK baseball with walks, hit by pitch and squeeze bunts. It also put the Cats in prime position to capitalize on South Carolina native Trey Pooser’s career-best start. The Hanahan, South Carolina native, 90 minutes from the Game****************s’ campus, struck out a career-high 11 batters in seven innings of one-run ball.
But it wasn’t meant to be.
The Game****************s led off the ninth with a solo homer from lefty Blake Jackson then saw back-to-back left-handed pinch hitters Dalton Reeves and Gavin Casas each crush solo shots of their own to tie the game. After Nick Lopez delivered a two-out RBI single in the 10th to give the Cats the lead once again, a one-out walk put the game-winning run at the plate in, who else, but Blake Jackson. He slashed his two-run game-winner off the railing above the left field wall, sending the Game****************s streaming onto the field in delirium.
The Wildcats take on South Carolina on Saturday night. First pitch is at 6 p.m. ET and the game will be televised ed on the SEC Network, along with an audio broadcast via the UK Sports Network.
Pinched: No. 19 South Carolina Stuns No. 4 Kentucky – UK Athletics​
The Wildcats (32-8, 15-4 Southeastern Conference) scored three runs in the top of the ninth to bust open what had been a pitcher’s duel. It was vintage UK baseball with walks, hit by pitch and squeeze bunts. It also put the Cats in prime position to capitalize on South Carolina native Trey Pooser’s career-best start. The Hanahan, South Carolina native, 90 minutes from the Game****************s’ campus, struck out a career-high 11 batters in seven innings of one-run ball.
But it wasn’t meant to be.
The Game****************s led off the ninth with a solo homer from lefty Blake Jackson then saw back-to-back left-handed pinch hitters Dalton Reeves and Gavin Casas each crush solo shots of their own to tie the game. After Nick Lopez delivered a two-out RBI single in the 10th to give the Cats the lead once again, a one-out walk put the game-winning run at the plate in, who else, but Blake Jackson. He slashed his two-run game-winner off the railing above the left field wall, sending the Game****************s streaming onto the field in delirium.
The Wildcats take on South Carolina on Saturday night. First pitch is at 6 p.m. ET and the game will be televised ed on the SEC Network, along with an audio broadcast via the UK Sports Network.
Pinched: No. 19 South Carolina Stuns No. 4 Kentucky – UK Athletics​
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