Kentucky Baseball Opens SEC Play with Win over Miss. State
For the first time since 2021, the Bat ‘Cats opened their conference slate with a win. Mississippi State made their way to Lexington and fell to Kentucky 6-5 in extras. With the win, the ‘Cats increased their winning streak to 12 games, the longest winning streak under head coach Nick Mingione.
Friday night’s matchup at Kentucky Proud Park proved just how resilient the Wildcats are.
All season, they have heavily relied on their pitching, but they couldn’t quite do that against the Bulldogs. Seventh-year slinger Darren Williams started on the mound for the ‘Cats and struggled more than he has all year. Williams went 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and four earned runs. The Kentucky offense will have to step up in SEC play, and they did just that with another hot start on Friday night.
Wildcats Kick Things Off with Four-Run Inning
After Williams sat down the first three batters of the game, the Wildcat offense got to Mississippi State’s Cijntje early. Jackson Gray and Jase Felker started things off with a walk, followed by a Devin Burkes single to load the bases. Émilien Pitre, looking to continue his hot streak, stepped up to the plate and was plunked, scoring Gray from third. With bases loaded and one out, Ryan Waldschmidt knocked a single to right field, scoring Felker and Burkes.
Entering Friday night, Kentucky led the SEC in bunts. Coach Mingione continued his ways with Pitre on third, as James McCoy laid down a bunt that scored Petey to give Kentucky an early four-run lead.
Bulldogs’ Offense Wakes Up
After two scoreless innings, the Mississippi State offense was gifted a run in the top of the third. After giving up a leadoff single, Darren Williams forced two quick outs. However, he walked the next two batters and loaded the bases. On a 3-2 count, Williams walked Luke Hancock, scoring Slate Alford from third. All three of Darren’s walks were on a full count.
The Bulldogs continued to inch back in the fourth inning after OF Kellum Clark launched a solo home run to bring the ‘Dawgs to within two. The Mississippi State offense would not be denied, as they took the lead in the fifth inning. With runners on second and third, Jase Felker made a throwing error on a grounder, allowing Bryce Chance to score.
After homering in his last at-bat, Kellum Clark was back up to bat. Clark poked a single to center field, scoring Highfill and Hancock to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 5-4.
Resilient ‘Cats Keep Fighting
After going scoreless following their four-run first inning, the ‘Cats finally scratched across another run in the bottom of the eighth. After Waldschmidt led off the inning with a walk, the next two batters were struck out. Following a Waldy steal of second, Kentucky put themselves in position to tie the game. Grant Smith singled up the middle on a two-strike count and scored Waldy from second. This game was tied.
The ninth inning was a tense one. Following an error by Grant Smith, the bases were loaded with two outs for the Mississippi State offense. Coach Mingione had confidence in Seth Chavez, as he replaced Mason Moore on the mound with ducks on the pond. Chavez was nails, as he forced an inning-ending ground out to third base.
The ‘Cats went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth and Kentucky was headed to their second extra-inning game of the season.
Kentucky Walks Off on Wild Pitch
Seth Chavez returned to the mound in extras and blew through the top of the Miss State lineup. Chavez struck out Amani Larry, Colton Ledbetter, and Bryce Chance to end the inning. The Kentucky offense came up to bat with a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the 10th, as Hunter Gilliam got things started with a leadoff single. Coach Minge called for another bunt, and Waldschmidt delivered.
A Waldy bunt moved Gilliam to second, putting him in scoring position with one out. James McCoy however lined out to right field, giving the ‘Cats two outs. Gilliam advanced to third on a wild pitch, bringing Kentucky Proud Park to its feet.
Mississippi State’s Nate Dohm threw another wild pitch, allowing Gilliam to race home and bring the ‘Cats their 12th win in a row.
Mississippi State will look to even the series up Saturday at 2:00 p.m. EST at Kentucky Proud Park.
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