UK Wildcats
No. 4 Wildcats yield five-run eighth, fall into second place in SEC East
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the second time on the weekend, Georgia rallied with a big inning late in the game to upset No. 4 Kentucky, 6-3, to hand the Wildcats their first home series loss of the season.
The loss, coupled with Florida’s series sweep of Ole Miss, leaves the Cats in second place in the SEC East for the first time this season with six league games remaining. UK hosts Indiana on Tuesday night before returning to conference play against Tennessee next Friday.
Sunday’s game was eerily similar to Friday night’s 5-3 defeat. Locked in a pitching duel, the Cats took a 2-1 lead on Riley Mahan’s team-leading 10th home run of the season in the seventh inning before things unraveled in the eighth.
Closer Logan Salow entered the game and immediately saw leadoff man Tucker Bradley drag bunt for a hit. After Michael Curry doubled in the tying run, a walk and a squibber off the end of the bat for a hit loaded the bases to set up Mitchell Webb’s go-ahead grand slam to right-centerfield.
The Cats managed to push a run across in the ninth and had the tying run at the plate but a hard hit ground ball up the middle turned into a double play to end the game. Georgia’s rally ruined UK starter Justin Lewis’ gem on the mound, having allowed only a solo home run in seven innings of work.
SCORING
Top 2nd – LJ Talley led off with a home run. UGA 1, UK 0.
Bot 3rd – Evan White doubled to left field and scored when Zach Reks doubled to left-center field in the next at bat. UK 1, UGA 1.
Bot 7th – Riley Mahan led off with a home run to left-center field. UK 2, UGA 1.
Top 8th – Tucker Bradley singled off a bunt and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt from Cam Shepherd. Michael Curry doubled down the left-field line, scoring Shepherd from second base. Mitchell Webb hit a grand slam to right-center field. UGA 6, UK 2.
Bot 9th – Luke Becker walked to start the inning and moved to third base after Troy Squires singled down the right-field line. Tyler Marshall singled through the right side, scoring Becker. UGA 6, UK .3
NOTES
- Kentucky has gone 67 games without being shutout, the eighth-longest such streak in school history.
- Sophomore RHP Justin Lewis gave up just one run and five hits in 7.0 innings of work.
o Lewis allowed only a solo HR by LJ Talley.
- Junior 1B Evan White went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
o White now has 208 career hits, good for 15th on UK’s all-time career hit list.
o White has a hit in 23 of his last 25 games.
o White has 19 multi-hit games this season and 63 for his career.
o He has reached base safely in 15 straight games.
o White has six three-hit games this season.
- Junior IF Riley Mahan went 1-for-4 with a solo home run.
o The home run was his team-leading 10th of the season and 16th of his career.
- Sophomore OF Tristan Pompey went 1-for-4.
o Pompey now has hit safely in 34 of his past 37 games.
o He has reached base safely in 19 straight games.
ON DECK
Kentucky welcomes Indiana to Cliff Hagan Stadium on Tuesday night looking to get back on track. First pitch is at 7 p.m. Fans can listen on the UK Sports Network via UKathletics.com and iHeart Radio, as well as on 630 AM WLAP, and watch on the SEC Network.
Follow along with the Cats on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and on the web at UKathletics.com.