COLUMBIA, S.C. – These Wildcats like their thrillers.
No. 4 Kentucky gave up a six-run first inning before scoring 11 unanswered runs to erase a five-run deficit and later survive a wild ninth inning to claim a 15-13 victory over No. 19 South Carolina in a second drama-filled contest in as many nights at Founders Park.
With the win Kentucky clinches a winning record in Southeastern Conference play for just the eighth time in its history and moves to 33-8 on the season, 16-4 in conference play.
The Cats scored five runs each in the fourth and fifth innings before tacking on three more in the ninth. The insurance runs proved critical as South Carolina scored two in the ninth and left the bases loaded to end the game when centerfielder Nolan McCarthy made a leaping grab at the wall on Tristan Casas’ potential game-winning drive.
Grant Smith drove in four runs, Ryan Nicholson hit a pair of home runs and Ryan Waldschmidt extended his hit streak to 12 games with four more knocks and four runs scored on the night.
Smith and Emilien Pitre also executed a gutsy double steal that included Pitre swiping home. As Pitre broke for home Smith took off from first and intentionally stumbled, drawing the attention of pitcher Matthew Becker. By the time Becker realized what was happening, Pitre slid safely into home and Smith scrambled to second.
The Wildcats take on South Carolina on Sunday in a rubber game. First pitch is at 3 p.m. ET and the game will be televised ed on the SEC Network, along with an audio broadcast via the UK Sports Network.
License to Thrill: No. 4 Kentucky Survives Six-Run 1st, Rallies to Win – UK Athletics
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No. 4 Kentucky gave up a six-run first inning before scoring 11 unanswered runs to erase a five-run deficit and later survive a wild ninth inning to claim a 15-13 victory over No. 19 South Carolina in a second drama-filled contest in as many nights at Founders Park.
With the win Kentucky clinches a winning record in Southeastern Conference play for just the eighth time in its history and moves to 33-8 on the season, 16-4 in conference play.
The Cats scored five runs each in the fourth and fifth innings before tacking on three more in the ninth. The insurance runs proved critical as South Carolina scored two in the ninth and left the bases loaded to end the game when centerfielder Nolan McCarthy made a leaping grab at the wall on Tristan Casas’ potential game-winning drive.
Grant Smith drove in four runs, Ryan Nicholson hit a pair of home runs and Ryan Waldschmidt extended his hit streak to 12 games with four more knocks and four runs scored on the night.
Smith and Emilien Pitre also executed a gutsy double steal that included Pitre swiping home. As Pitre broke for home Smith took off from first and intentionally stumbled, drawing the attention of pitcher Matthew Becker. By the time Becker realized what was happening, Pitre slid safely into home and Smith scrambled to second.
The Wildcats take on South Carolina on Sunday in a rubber game. First pitch is at 3 p.m. ET and the game will be televised ed on the SEC Network, along with an audio broadcast via the UK Sports Network.
License to Thrill: No. 4 Kentucky Survives Six-Run 1st, Rallies to Win – UK Athletics
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