Cats Even Series with Tigers, 12-0

For the second consecutive night, the Wildcats (23-12, 7-7 SEC) had a late game offensive explosion but this time, it was enough for the win as the Cats evened up the series heading into tomorrow afternoon's 1pm rubber match. UK exploded for a combined 12 runs and 11 hits in the fifth and sixth innings. Left-hander Dylan Dwyer earned the win in his first career SEC start. With both teams combining for three hits apiece through the first four and a half innings, the Cats finally ended the offensive drought with two-outs in the fifth. Max Kuhn earned UK's first base hit in three innings with a blooper that fell in between the second baseman and right fielder. A.J. Reed then drove the first pitch he saw over the right-centerfield wall for his NCAA leading 14th home run of the season. Reed has hit a homer in five consecutive SEC games. After a single by Micheal Thomas, Ka'ai Tom roped a double down the rightfield line to make it 3-0. The Cats would score nine more in the sixth thanks to a bevy of solid hits and several defensive miscues by Missouri. Storm Wilson led off the inning with double into the rightfield corner and scored on a single to right by Thomas Bernal and two errors. Bernal, who took third on the errors, scored on a Matt Reida single. Nine-hole hitter JaVon Shelby attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt but the throw attempting to get the lead runner and second hit off the heel of the shortstop's glove and bounced into right, which allowed Reida and Shelby to advance to second and third. After an Austin Cousino strikeout for the first out of the inning, Max Kuhn (a career high 4-for-4 on the night) drove in both runners on his 10th double of the season down the leftfield line. With firstbase open, the Tigers wisely decided to intentionally walk Reed but it did not matter as the next four Wildcat batters would reach, bowing the game wide open. In-between, 2013 Gold Glove award winner Austin Cousino, despite an 0-5 night at the plate, showed off his defensive prowess in the top of the sixth as he threw a dart to Micheal Thomas from centerfield to gun down a Tiger at the plate on a two out single and preserve the shutout. Dwyer called the catch "the biggest play of the night." Dwyer pitched very well in his first career SEC start in place of injured Chandler Shepherd. The sophomore (5-1, 3.76ERA) worked six and a third inning shutout innings, scattering six hits and striking out three while walking one on 107 pitches. "He got us out of a couple of jams where they could have scored first but didn't", head coach Gary Henderson said after the game. "I'm really proud of him, a solid effort. He's really grown up." Relievers Logan Salow and Zach Strecker worked the last two and two-third innings to preserve the shutout. The Cats and Tigers will face off in the series rubber match tomorrow afternoon at 1pm with Andrew Nelson taking the mound for the Cats. Once again the game will be broadcast on CWKYT in Lexington and Fox Sports South. BOX SCORE: