Recap: Kentucky Knocks Off #1 LSU
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@UKBaseball[/caption]
Following their exciting 5-4 win over #1 LSU on Friday, Kentucky beat the Tigers 12-10 in 11 innings to win the series. Kentucky had to fight through some difficult deficits, but managed to pull out a hard-fought win over the nation's number one team. The 2-1 series win over LSU showed that this team has an extreme amount of grit and a "refuse to lose" attitude.
The game appeared to be in Kentucky's favor early. The Cats jumped on LSU starting pitcher Jake Godfrey in the second inning with four runs on five hits. Godfrey lasted only 1.2 innings before LSU head coach Paul Mainieri went to his bullpen. LSU's bullpen held Kentucky's offense in check while the Tigers scored six unanswered runs entering the seventh inning. JaVon Shelby hit an RBI double to score Evan White and cut the score to 6-5 entering the bottom of the seventh. Each time Kentucky would make a move, LSU would respond. Connor Hale and Kade Scivicque drove in runs to extend the Tigers' lead to 8-5 entering the eighth inning.
The eighth inning is where Kentucky showed they would not go down without a fight. White drove in a pair of runs on an RBI double and Ka'ai Tom beat out a groundout at first to score the tying run. Following a second inning home run, Dorian Hairston delivered yet again. The junior hit into a fielder's choice that scored the go-ahead run and gave UK a 9-8 lead headed to the bottom half of the eighth. After a dominating performance against LSU on Friday, Kentucky turned to Zach Strecker to pitch late in the game. The Tigers began to feast off of Strecker in the bottom of the eighth. An RBI single by Mark Laird followed by a sacrifice fly by Bregman gave LSU a 10-9 lead through eight. Kentucky would be down to their last three outs in the ninth with Storm Wilson, Marcus Carson and Riley Mahan due up.
LSU reliever Parker Bugg got Wilson to fly out and Carson to ground out to begin the inning. With a one run lead and two out in the ninth, Bugg needed to retire Mahan to end the game. Mahan hit a line drive to left that LSU's left fielder dove and missed. The ball continued to roll to the wall with Mahan trucking around the bases and scoring on an inside the park home run to tie the game. LSU could not respond in the bottom of the ninth and the game went to extra innings tied at 10.
Due to SEC Travel Regulations, no inning could start after 3:05 CT. If the score was still deadlocked, the game would end in a tie. After a scoreless tenth inning, the 11th inning began just a few minutes before the curfew. Kentucky fans were elated to see this be a benefit for the Cats. In his only at-bat of the game, Greg Fettes hit a leadoff home run to give Kentucky an 11-10 lead in the 11th. The home run was Fettes' third on the year and first since Opening Day. Kentucky added a much-needed insurance run on a Tom RBI single. After the top of the 11th, Kentucky led 12-10 over LSU.
The Tigers would have to score three runs to win and two to tie in the bottom half of the inning. Kentucky closer Spencer Jack finished off a fantastic outing with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 12th to wrap up a 12-10 win for the Cats.
Box Score
More to follow on Kentucky's upset win over LSU.
@TreyHuntsmanKSR
@UKBaseball[/caption]
Following their exciting 5-4 win over #1 LSU on Friday, Kentucky beat the Tigers 12-10 in 11 innings to win the series. Kentucky had to fight through some difficult deficits, but managed to pull out a hard-fought win over the nation's number one team. The 2-1 series win over LSU showed that this team has an extreme amount of grit and a "refuse to lose" attitude.
The game appeared to be in Kentucky's favor early. The Cats jumped on LSU starting pitcher Jake Godfrey in the second inning with four runs on five hits. Godfrey lasted only 1.2 innings before LSU head coach Paul Mainieri went to his bullpen. LSU's bullpen held Kentucky's offense in check while the Tigers scored six unanswered runs entering the seventh inning. JaVon Shelby hit an RBI double to score Evan White and cut the score to 6-5 entering the bottom of the seventh. Each time Kentucky would make a move, LSU would respond. Connor Hale and Kade Scivicque drove in runs to extend the Tigers' lead to 8-5 entering the eighth inning.
The eighth inning is where Kentucky showed they would not go down without a fight. White drove in a pair of runs on an RBI double and Ka'ai Tom beat out a groundout at first to score the tying run. Following a second inning home run, Dorian Hairston delivered yet again. The junior hit into a fielder's choice that scored the go-ahead run and gave UK a 9-8 lead headed to the bottom half of the eighth. After a dominating performance against LSU on Friday, Kentucky turned to Zach Strecker to pitch late in the game. The Tigers began to feast off of Strecker in the bottom of the eighth. An RBI single by Mark Laird followed by a sacrifice fly by Bregman gave LSU a 10-9 lead through eight. Kentucky would be down to their last three outs in the ninth with Storm Wilson, Marcus Carson and Riley Mahan due up.
LSU reliever Parker Bugg got Wilson to fly out and Carson to ground out to begin the inning. With a one run lead and two out in the ninth, Bugg needed to retire Mahan to end the game. Mahan hit a line drive to left that LSU's left fielder dove and missed. The ball continued to roll to the wall with Mahan trucking around the bases and scoring on an inside the park home run to tie the game. LSU could not respond in the bottom of the ninth and the game went to extra innings tied at 10.
Due to SEC Travel Regulations, no inning could start after 3:05 CT. If the score was still deadlocked, the game would end in a tie. After a scoreless tenth inning, the 11th inning began just a few minutes before the curfew. Kentucky fans were elated to see this be a benefit for the Cats. In his only at-bat of the game, Greg Fettes hit a leadoff home run to give Kentucky an 11-10 lead in the 11th. The home run was Fettes' third on the year and first since Opening Day. Kentucky added a much-needed insurance run on a Tom RBI single. After the top of the 11th, Kentucky led 12-10 over LSU.
The Tigers would have to score three runs to win and two to tie in the bottom half of the inning. Kentucky closer Spencer Jack finished off a fantastic outing with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 12th to wrap up a 12-10 win for the Cats.
Box Score
More to follow on Kentucky's upset win over LSU.
@TreyHuntsmanKSR
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