UK Baseball wins mid-week thriller over Butler

On3 imageby:Kassidy Stumbo03/23/21

kass_stumbo

(UK Athletics)

The University of Kentucky Baseball team is now 14-4 after a mid-week, walk-off win over the Butler University Bulldogs.

Kentucky struck first thanks to an Austin Schultz leadoff double in the first inning. It was Schultz’s eighth of the season and the 14th game in a row where he has had a hit. Oraj Anu hit a single to score Schultz, putting the ‘Cats up 1-0.

John Rhodes scored in the third inning off a Coltyn Kessler two-out RBI single to tack on another point. Rhodes was good offensively, but he didn’t stop there. The freshman star put in impressive work on defense, too, including this play:

Butler managed to take a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh after some Kentucky defensive errors. UK had some pitching problems, trying out six different Wildcats on the mound throughout the match. Cole Daniels finished strong, though, with no runs allowed or hits in his 1.2 innings pitched.

Kentucky managed to get the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, but couldn’t capitalize. There was controversy on a fair/foul call that appeared fair on replay, but it was too late. The ‘Cats entered the ninth inning down 5-2.

Anu got Kentucky off to a hot start in the bottom of the ninth with a double to left field. The ‘Cats loaded the bases with zero outs after Rhodes was hit by a pitch and Collett was intentionally walked. A Trae Harmon single to center field scored both Anu and Rhodes, cutting the Bulldog lead to 5-4.

After a Bulldog bitching change, Kessler stepped up to the plate with no outs and the tying run 90 feet away. Though he was only 1-4 on the game, he came up big when it mattered with a walk off double to win the game 6-5. 

The Wildcats will play their first road series at Auburn this weekend. Auburn is currently last in the SEC West after getting swept by No. 4 Ole Miss last weekend. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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2024-03-28