Kentucky Baseball Clinches Series Victory over No. 3 South Carolina
After failing to win their last three SEC series, the ‘Cats needed just the first two days of the weekend to clinch a major series victory over No. 3 South Carolina 14-7 in convincing fashion on Saturday. It is Kentucky’s first SEC series victory since April 1st, as Nick Mingione’s squad has all but wrapped up their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2017.
The Kentucky offense enjoyed an explosion at the plate on Saturday. The ‘Cats accrued 16 hits, five of which were extra base hits. Émilien Pitre and Ryan Waldschmidt shined at the plate, combining for six hits and an RBI. Jase Felker and James McCoy both knocked in three runs each, and Jackson Gray has reached safely in 32 of his last 45 plate appearances, an unreal stretch of play for him.
Back and Forth Start
For the second consecutive game in the series, the ‘Cats jumped out to an early lead. After a scoreless first inning, Émilien Pitre kicked things off with a single in the bottom of the second. After a Ryan Waldschmidt single and a Reuben Church walk, bases were loaded for Devin Burkes. Burkes grounded into a fielder’s choice, but it allowed Pitre to score from third. After Carolina’s Maroney walked James McCoy, bases were loaded once again. Grant Smith grounded out to Maroney on the mound, but it allowed Church to dart home from third. The ‘Cats scratched across two runs in the second, but it still seemed like a missed opportunity.
The lead however didn’t last for long. Tyler Bosma walked the bases loaded for Cole Messina, who flied out to the warning track in his prior at-bat. Messina made his impact known, ripping a bases clearing double to left field. The ‘Cats immediately responded however, as Ryan Waldschmidt would score on a wild pitch from third after he was plunked by Maroney to kick off the bottom of the third. A wild first few innings of Derby Day baseball.
Fourth and Fifth Inning Fireworks
With the game tied at three apiece in the bottom of the fourth, the ‘Cats pulled ahead once again. Grant Smith drew a one out walk, putting a runner on base with Jackson Gray up to bat. Gray, Kentucky’s hottest hitter as of late, made Mahoney pay. Gray smashed a double to left center field, driving in Smith all the way from first. Following a Jase Felker fielder’s choice and a Hunter Gilliam single, Émilien Pitre poked his second single of the game up the middle to score Felker from second. Once again however, the ‘Cocks wouldn’t trail for long.
Austin Strickland took over on the mound for the ‘Cats in the top of the fifth and was met by a rude awakening. After forcing a double play, the mighty Messina ripped another double off Stricky, putting a runner in scoring position with power hitting Gavin Casas up to bat. This scenario may have been a good time to intentionally walk the smoking hot Casas with a base open, but Mingione decided to pitch to him. Casas made the ‘Cats pay however, as he smoked his 18th home run of the season to tie the game back up at five apiece. The first five innings of this one was defined by “whatever you can do, I can do better.”
Felker and McCoy: Derby Day Heroes
Every year as the Kentucky Derby comes and goes, a hero always emerges from the pack. Rich Strike’s unbelievable 2022 upset victory. American Pharoah’s run to glory in 2015. Jase Felker and James McCoy’s combined six RBI in innings five and six to propel Kentucky to a six-run lead over the No. 3 ranked Gamecocks on May 6, 2023. It’s all the same really.
Reuben Church and Devin Burkes kicked off the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles, but the ‘Cats quickly accrued two outs with runners on first and second. After an intentional walk was issued to Jackson Gray, Jase Felker galloped up to the plate. Carolina’s intentional walk decision came back to bite them, as Felker ripped a triple to the left center field fence. The bases cleared as the ‘Cats suddenly found themselves with an 8-5 lead. After Austin Strickland struck out the side in the top of the sixth, Kentucky distanced themselves even further in the latter half of the inning.
Émilien Pitre was plunked and Ryan Waldschmidt singled to start the bottom of the sixth, putting runners on first and second for James McCoy. McCoy, who was the story of Friday’s victory, made even more noise on Saturday. After hitting an inside-the-park home run to ignite Kentucky’s 7-3 victory the day prior, McCoy hit a major league home run to drive in three more runs for the ‘Cats in the bottom of the sixth. Hopefully this weekend is a major turning point for the ‘Cats as they head towards the postseason.
Series Victory, Wildcats
The ‘Cats tacked on three more insurance runs over their final two innings of offense, thanks to RBI groundouts from Hunter Gilliam and Devin Burkes and an RBI-single from Grant Smith. Austin Strickland finished things off for the ‘Cats, striking out Gavin Casas to end this one. After a rough first inning, Stricky was very efficient for Kentucky. In five innings of relief, Strickland allowed just five hits and three earned runs while striking out six batters.
Game three of the weekend series is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST Sunday at Kentucky Proud Park. Kentucky will be looking to hand South Carolina their first sweep of the season.
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