Bat Cats down Miami (OH) 9-5 to stay perfect in midweek action
In a game that featured 16 total walks and six hit by pitches, Kentucky’s plate vision willed them to a 9-5 midweek victory over Miami (OH) Tuesday night.
The RedHawk pitching staff gifted the Cats 17 free bases, including four consecutive runs in the seventh inning. Miami (OH)’s pitching struggles couldn’t have come at a better time, as Kentucky stranded 14 batters and hit 2-15 with runners in scoring position.
Patrick Herrera finished with one of the most unbelievable statlines you’ll ever see. Herrera finished with four walks and two hit by pitches in six (unofficial) at-bats.
“That was one of the weirdest games I’ve ever been apart of,” Herrera said postgame.
Kentucky improves to 21-4 (5-1) on the season with the victory.
The Cats will attempt to start SEC play with three straight conference series victories when they take on Ole Miss in Oxford this weekend.
Another early midweek deficit for the Cats
Entering Tuesday, Kentucky had fallen behind in three consecutive midweek games. This trend continued against the RedHawks, as the Cats once again found themselves in an early deficit.
“If I had the answer we’d be winning,” Mingione joked when asked about falling behind in their midweek matchups. “The guys that end up coming in slam the door late and give our offense a chance to come back. They fought back. But man it would be nice to get a lead and add to a lead. But their fight is pretty impressive.”
Kentucky loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, but mustered just one run thanks to a Mitch Daly drawn walk with the bases loaded. Austin Fawley, who started at catcher to give Devin Burkes a rare off day, grounded into a double play to end the inning with three runners stranded on base.
Both teams remained scoreless until the top of the third, until the RedHawks put up a three-spot to pull in front.
Right-handed pitcher Zach Hise relieved Lafferty in the second inning, running into some trouble in his second inning of action. Hise loaded the bases before giving up a two-run single to Miami’s Ty Batusich. He was replaced by fellow righty Cam O’Brien, who allowed an RBI-single of his own.
Once again, a mid-major had jumped out in front of the Cats. They trailed 3-1 through four.
Drew Lafferty exits after just one inning
Redshirt freshman right-handed pitcher Drew Lafferty started his sixth game of the season on Tuesday, but exited after one hitless inning.
“[Lafferty] had a little bit of tightness,” Mingione said postgame. “So we just felt like the right thing to do was to take him out. You don’t want to push it. Hopefully we’ll know more tomorrow.”
Lafferty has been nearly flawless against midweek competition, boasting a 3.14 ERA in 17.2 innings pitched. Five of his six earned runs on the season came in his start against Murray State back on March 12.
Miami (OH) pads lead in fifth
Kentucky’s offense really struggled against the RedHawks, stranding 10 runners on base through just five innings of play.
Austin Fawley brought the Cats one run closer with an RBI-single in the third inning, but they failed to capitalize any further than that.
Right-hander Robert Hogan entered the game for the Cats in the fourth inning, sitting the Miami offense down in order. The righty however immediately ran into some trouble in the fifth, opening the inning with a hit by pitch.
With a runner on first, Miami shortstop Dillon Baker jumped all over Hogan’s 0-2 pitch, sending it over the left field wall for a two-run home run. Suddenly, the Cats were staring at a 5-2 deficit.
Plate vision wills Cats to victory
Maybe it wasn’t Kentucky’s night at the plate offensively, but its plate vision willed them to a wild midweek victory.
Trailing 5-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Kentucky plated four consecutive runners via a walk or a hit by pitch to take a 6-5 lead.
With ducks on the pond, Grant Smith was hit by a pitch on a 3-2 count, Pat Herrera drew a walk on a 3-2 count, Emilien Pitre was hit by a pitch, and Ryan Nicholson drew a 3-2 walk. Miami (OH) came close to getting out of the inning with three 3-2 counts on three different batters, but ended up surrendering three runs instead.
Nick Lopez capped off the inning with a two-run single to left field, propelling the Cats to an 8-5 lead.
Midweek magic at Kentucky Proud Park continues to rear its head, as Kentucky has now overcome four consecutive midweek deficits for a win.
Ty Crittenberger pinch-hit for the Cats in the eighth inning, blasting a solo shot over the left field wall to increase Kentucky’s lead to nine. Just four of Kentucky’s nine total runs came via a hit.
Right-handed pitcher Cooper Robinson finished things off for the Cats in the ninth, sitting down the RedHawks in order to cement a wild victory for the Cats.
The last 15 Miami (OH) batters were retired in order.
“I actually have,” coach Nick Mingione responded when asked if he’s ever been involved in a game like this one. “I’ve been apart of a lot of walks and things like that, but I give our guys a lot of credit. We fought back and they really wanted to win. It would’ve been real easy to go ‘well its not our night,’ but we don’t do that.”
You may never see another game like this one.
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