Kentucky falls to Missouri 2-1 in pitcher's duel
Offense completely dried up for Kentucky on Saturday, as they notched just one run in a 2-1 loss to Missouri.
The Cats had totaled at least nine hits and nine runs in each game of their seven-game win streak. Missouri pitchers left-hander Javyn Pimental and right-hander Bryce Mayer totally shutdown the Wildcat offense on Friday, allowing just five hits and one run.
Kentucky’s four-game winning streak over Missouri was snapped with the loss.
Kentucky falls to 19-4 (4-1) on the season.
Cats and Tigers employ small ball early
Following two hitless innings, both teams used small ball to get on the board.
Kentucky’s Nolan McCarthy opened the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff double, putting an immediate runner in scoring position for the Cats. With his third inning double, McCarthy increased his hit streak to seven games.
Ty Crittenberger layed down a bunt to move McCarthy over to third, moving Kentucky’s first run of the game 90 feet closer. Grant Smith followed Crittenberger with a bunt of his own, this time down the first base line. McCarthy beat the throw home from third, scoring the first run of the game. Kentucky jumped ahead 1-0, but the Tigers responded in the latter half of the inning.
With one out in the inning, Missouri’s Jackson Lovich hit a high pop fly into shallow right field. Miscommunication between Emilien Pitre, Ryan Nicholson, and Ty Crittenberger allowed the ball to fall in no man’s land, allowing Lovich to reach third for a triple.
The Tigers then employed some “Mingione ball” of their own, laying down an RBI sacrifice bunt. Lovich beat the throw home, tying the game up at one. Trevor Austin reached on the bunt single, putting a runner on for Jedier Hernandez. Hernandez laced a double down the left field line, driving in Austin from first.
Missouri claimed at 2-1 lead through three innings.
Niman dominant in loss
Grad transfer left-handed pitcher Dominic Niman made his sixth start of the season for the Cats and dominated in the loss.
Niman pitched seven innings, allowing just four hits and two earned runs while striking out a season-high nine batters. It should have been no earned runs, but the third inning Missouri triple, that came via miscommunication in the Wildcat infield, was indeed ruled a triple and not an error.
Over his last 13.2 innings pitched against two SEC teams (Georgia and Missouri), Niman has allowed just a combined eight hits and two earned runs with 14 strikeouts. The transfer has really found his groove and is living up to his preseason All-American mantra.
Kentucky offense struggles
After falling behind 2-1 following the third inning, Kentucky failed to score another run and notched just four hits.
Missouri right-handed pitcher Bryce Mayer entered in the seventh inning, giving up just one hit in his three innings of relief.
Mayer struck out Reuben Church to solidify Missouri’s first SEC victory of the season.
The series is up for grabs Sunday at noon in Columbia.
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