Kentucky Upsets #1 LSU in 12 Innings
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Thomas Bernal collected three hits in a 5-4 win in Baton Rouge. (Photo by Elliott Hess, UK Athletics)[/caption]
For the seventh time in the Gary Henderson era, Kentucky has knocked off the #1 team in the country. A 5-4 upset over LSU on Friday night improved Kentucky's record against #1 teams to 7-7 under Coach Henderson. The win did not come easy as the game rolled into extra innings.
LSU got the ball rolling with two runs in the second inning to take the first lead of the game. RBIs by Jake Fraley and Chris Sciambra put Kentucky starting pitcher Zack Brown in an early hole. Brown managed to work out of that inning and keep the score at 2-0 into the seventh where Kentucky's offense woke up. LSU starter Jared Poche' didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, but Kentucky found five hits off Poche' in the seventh. Dorian Hairston started the inning with a double. Thomas Bernal collected one of his three hits on the game with an RBI single to score Hairston. Later in the inning, Connor Heady singled to bring home Bernal and tie the game. Kentucky had an opportunity with two outs to take their first lead of the game. Kyle Barrett came through in the clutch with an RBI single to score Greg Fettes and give UK a 3-2 lead.Â
LSU quickly responded in the bottom half of the seventh. After a throwing error by Bernal, LSU scored to tie the game at three. The unearned run would lead to Brown not picking up a decision on the mound as he exited after 6.2 innings. Dylan Dwyer came on to finish the seventh and pitch into the eighth for Kentucky. Both team's bullpens were able to shut down the other's offense leading into extra innings. A duel began between Kentucky's Zach Strecker and LSU's Jesse Stallings in the extra frames. Strecker went three innings out of the bullpen, allowing four hits and an unearned run. Stallings was fantastic as well before he reached the 12th inning.Â
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Ka'ai Tom played hero once again. (Photo by Elliott Hess, UK Athletics)[/caption]
Kentucky's offense had been relatively quiet in the final two innings and in extras. Stallings had been cruising through the lineup before Barrett singled with two outs in the 12th. Following Evan White being hit by a pitch, Ka'ai Tom came to the plate with runners on first and second with two outs. Tom drove a 1-2 pitch down the right field line to score both Barrett and White. Tom's RBI double gave Kentucky a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 12th.Â
Just like the 7th inning, LSU managed to begin another rally in the 12th. Two errors by Kentucky allowed LSU to cut the score to 5-4. Kentucky closer Spencer Jack was brought on to end the threat. Jack got a groundout to end the game and solidify a 5-4 win for Kentucky.
https://twitter.com/UKBaseball/status/581686965713637376
-Starting pitcher Zack Brown was phenomenal in his third consecutive Friday start. In his 11th career start, Brown went 6.2 innings and allowed three runs while striking out three.
-Evan White extended his hit streak to nine games while Kyle Barrett extended his to eight games.
-Zach Strecker picked up the third win of his career after pitching three innings and not allowing an earned run.
-Ka'ai Tom did not have a hit in his previous four at-bats in the game before his RBI double in the 12th inning. Tom now has 26 RBIs in 2015.
-LSU's Alex Bregman and Connor Hale combined for one hit in ten at-bats against Kentucky pitching on Friday. Neither of LSU's big run producers drove in a run against UK.
-Over 11,000 people were at Alex Box Stadium to see Kentucky knock off LSU in Baton Rouge.
Â
@TreyHuntsmanKSR
Â
Thomas Bernal collected three hits in a 5-4 win in Baton Rouge. (Photo by Elliott Hess, UK Athletics)[/caption]
For the seventh time in the Gary Henderson era, Kentucky has knocked off the #1 team in the country. A 5-4 upset over LSU on Friday night improved Kentucky's record against #1 teams to 7-7 under Coach Henderson. The win did not come easy as the game rolled into extra innings.
LSU got the ball rolling with two runs in the second inning to take the first lead of the game. RBIs by Jake Fraley and Chris Sciambra put Kentucky starting pitcher Zack Brown in an early hole. Brown managed to work out of that inning and keep the score at 2-0 into the seventh where Kentucky's offense woke up. LSU starter Jared Poche' didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, but Kentucky found five hits off Poche' in the seventh. Dorian Hairston started the inning with a double. Thomas Bernal collected one of his three hits on the game with an RBI single to score Hairston. Later in the inning, Connor Heady singled to bring home Bernal and tie the game. Kentucky had an opportunity with two outs to take their first lead of the game. Kyle Barrett came through in the clutch with an RBI single to score Greg Fettes and give UK a 3-2 lead.Â
LSU quickly responded in the bottom half of the seventh. After a throwing error by Bernal, LSU scored to tie the game at three. The unearned run would lead to Brown not picking up a decision on the mound as he exited after 6.2 innings. Dylan Dwyer came on to finish the seventh and pitch into the eighth for Kentucky. Both team's bullpens were able to shut down the other's offense leading into extra innings. A duel began between Kentucky's Zach Strecker and LSU's Jesse Stallings in the extra frames. Strecker went three innings out of the bullpen, allowing four hits and an unearned run. Stallings was fantastic as well before he reached the 12th inning.Â
[caption id="attachment_176293" align="alignright" width="300"]
Ka'ai Tom played hero once again. (Photo by Elliott Hess, UK Athletics)[/caption]
Kentucky's offense had been relatively quiet in the final two innings and in extras. Stallings had been cruising through the lineup before Barrett singled with two outs in the 12th. Following Evan White being hit by a pitch, Ka'ai Tom came to the plate with runners on first and second with two outs. Tom drove a 1-2 pitch down the right field line to score both Barrett and White. Tom's RBI double gave Kentucky a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 12th.Â
Just like the 7th inning, LSU managed to begin another rally in the 12th. Two errors by Kentucky allowed LSU to cut the score to 5-4. Kentucky closer Spencer Jack was brought on to end the threat. Jack got a groundout to end the game and solidify a 5-4 win for Kentucky.
https://twitter.com/UKBaseball/status/581686965713637376
-Starting pitcher Zack Brown was phenomenal in his third consecutive Friday start. In his 11th career start, Brown went 6.2 innings and allowed three runs while striking out three.
-Evan White extended his hit streak to nine games while Kyle Barrett extended his to eight games.
-Zach Strecker picked up the third win of his career after pitching three innings and not allowing an earned run.
-Ka'ai Tom did not have a hit in his previous four at-bats in the game before his RBI double in the 12th inning. Tom now has 26 RBIs in 2015.
-LSU's Alex Bregman and Connor Hale combined for one hit in ten at-bats against Kentucky pitching on Friday. Neither of LSU's big run producers drove in a run against UK.
-Over 11,000 people were at Alex Box Stadium to see Kentucky knock off LSU in Baton Rouge.
Â
@TreyHuntsmanKSR
 
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