Late MSU Rally Falls Short, Cats Clinch Series With 9-7 Win

https://twitter.com/UKBaseball/status/579391667146506241 The UK baseball team followed up an impressive 10-2 rout over 20th ranked Mississippi State with a 9-7 victory on Saturday afternoon to clinch its first SEC series of the 2015 season. The Bulldogs faced a six-run deficit heading into the ninth inning, but managed to cut the Wildcat lead to just two runs. Senior closer Spencer Jack sealed the game for the Cats, picking up his third save of the year. The Wildcats quickly took the lead in the bottom of the first inning as Kyle Barrett singled up the middle and Ka'ai Tom crushed his first home run of the season, a two-run shot. UK pushed its lead to 3-0 in the second after Barrett's two-out single drove in Riley Mahan. After going scoreless over the course of the next three innings, the Cats added two runs in the sixth. Mahan led off the inning with a bunt single and Greg Fettes ripped a double in the right-center gap, scoring Mahan. Fettes then scored from third on an infield single from Evan White. The Cats added three more runs in the seventh. JaVon Shelby reached base safely on an error and Storm Wilson moved Shelby to second on a sacrifice bunt. Dorian Hairston, pinch hitting for Mahan, doubled to drive in Shelby. A sacrifice fly from Fettes scored Thomas Bernal, then Connor Heady singled to score Hairston. UK starting pitcher Dustin Beggs worked six innings and faced some adversity as the Bulldogs manufactured runs in the third and fifth innings, but managed to pick up the win to improve to 3-2 on the season. Eight different Wildcats collected hits, including a career-high four hits from Barrett. The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. Cliff Hagan Stadium as Kentucky (15-7, 2-3) goes for the sweep. @STHowle