Kentucky topples Tennessee 5-3 in history-setting series opener
In front of a record crowd of 6,922 fans Friday night, No. 3 Kentucky toppled No. 4 Tennessee 5-3 in one of the biggest games in program history.
“There’s been times where there have been crowds where we maybe haven’t cashed in,” Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione said postgame. “This was absolutely an opportunity where we needed to cash in, especially in that environment.”
The Cats trailed for most of the game, until a two-run single from Emilien Pitre in the seventh inning put Kentucky ahead for good.
With the win, Kentucky improved to 32-5 (15-1) on the season and won its 11th consecutive conference game. Kentucky’s 15-1 start to SEC play extends its program record, and they are now just two wins shy of the conference record for best start in SEC play.
Players of the Game:
- LF Ryan Waldschmidt: Waldschmidt continued his hot-streak at the plate, as he hit a solo home run and a double Friday night.
- 2B Emilien Pitre: Pitre’s two-run single in the seventh gave Kentucky its first lead of the game.
- RHP Trey Pooser: Pooser pitched six innings, allowing just five hits and three home runs with four strikeouts.
Long ball gives Tennessee early lead
Tennessee entered the weekend leading all of college baseball in team home runs hit (101). They added to that total in the second inning, scratching across the first two runs of the game via the long ball.
Trey Pooser walked Tennessee right fielder Kavares Tears to open the inning, quickly putting a Volunteer runner on base. Pooser forced two consecutive outs, but then fell victim to his fifth allowed home run of the season.
Tennessee center fielder Hunter Easley belted the third pitch of his at-bat over the right field wall, giving the Volunteers an early 2-0 lead.
The 2-0 lead didn’t last long however, as Ryan Waldschmidt cut the deficit in half via a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning. Following his Big Blue Bomb, Waldschmidt had belted three home runs and two doubles in his prior seven at-bats. Talk about a heater.
Trey Pooser makes efficient start
Right-hander Trey Pooser made his fifth start of the season for Kentucky Friday night and pitched one of his best games of the season.
Pooser lasted six innings and gave up just five hits and three earned runs. He also struck out four batters.
“I thought Trey Pooser was fantastic,” Mingione said postgame. “He gave up the home run and did not let it bother him. The very next inning, he went 1-2-3 and gave us a chance. He worked around some traffic and was able to minimize just a really good offense. He was able to minimize and just give up one run.”
Kentucky takes lead in wild seventh inning
Tennessee’s lead remained at 2-1 until the fifth inning, when an RBI-single from Christian Little extended the Volunteer lead to two. The score stayed 3-1 until the bottom of the seventh, when Kentucky Proud Park willed the Cats to a lead.
Kentucky loaded the bases via a walk, a hit by pitch, and a Nolan McCarthy single with just one out in the inning. Ryan Waldschmidt, who has been Kentucky’s hottest hitter, stepped in to bat.
Waldschmidt hit a dribbler groundball to Tennessee first baseman Blake Burke that allowed Ryan Nicholson to score from third, bringing the Cats back within one.
All 6,922 fans at Kentucky Proud Park rose to their feet as Emilien Pitre stepped in the box with runners on first and second. Pitre hit a rocket grounder at Tennessee third baseman Billy Amick, which bounced off his glove and into left field.
McCarthy was able to score easily from second, but Devin Burkes, who has been dealing with a lingering hamstring issue, was behind him on the basepath.
Burkes rounded third and practically walked home, but the Tennessee throw to the plate was wide. Burkes was able to score standing up, giving Kentucky their first lead of the game.
“Me and [Ryan] Hagenow were talking and were like ‘dang, it’s 3-2 and Devin’s on second. If we get a hit here, we’ve got to score,” Ryan Waldschmidt said postgame. “We get the hit and he comes jogging around and we’re like ‘oh no, what’s happening here?’ I think he caught everyone by surprise. Even the defense was just watching the defense go by because they were like ‘what is this guy doing?'”
Bat Cats secure massive series opener
Right-hander Travis Smith pitched two lights out innings of relief, holding the Volunteers hitless with three strikeouts.
The bottom of the eighth presented a major opportunity to tack on an insurance run for Kentucky, and it delivered via Nolan McCarthy.
With one out in the inning, McCarthy blasted a solo home run to extend Kentucky’s lead to two. His sixth home run of the season brought all of Kentucky Proud Park to its feet, as they could sense a major victory looming.
“I hit it and I was like ‘maybe'”, Nolan McCarthy said postgame when asked if he thought his home run was gone. “But then, I saw the outfielder run and said ‘oh no, it’s not.’ But then I saw it go over and I was fired up.”
Right-hander Johnny Hummel entered in the ninth for Kentucky, looking to secure his fifth save of the season.
Hummel opened off the inning with a walk, but sat down the next three batters down in order to finish off the massive win.
Victory, Kentucky.
What’s next for No. 3 Kentucky?
Kentucky and Tennessee return to Kentucky Proud Park Saturday at 2:00 p.m. EST for game two of the weekend series.
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