Vicky Graff Photo
Emilien Pitre delivered the game-winning hit and Johnny Hummel sent the school-record crowd of 6,922 at Kentucky Proud Park into delirium with his fifth save as No. 3 Kentucky used a three-run seventh inning to rally past No. 2 Tennessee 5-3 on Friday night.
The Wildcats now are 32-5 overall and an astounding 15-1 in Southeastern Conference play, opening a five-game lead in the division with 14 to play.
Trailing 3-1 and looking to break the dam after several scoring chances went unclaimed, UK finally got to AJ Causey in the seventh. After hitting Ryan Nicholson to open the inning, Nolan McCarthy lined a single to left and Devin Burkes walked to load the bases.
Ryan Waldschmidt hit an RBI grounder to pull the Cats to within one before Tennessee went to triple digit-throwing reliever Nate Snead. Pitre laced a ball that handcuffed the third baseman and skipped into left, scoring two to give UK a 4-3 lead.
An inning later, McCarthy tomahawked a fastball into the bullpen to make it 5-3. From there, Hummel closed the door with relative ease for his fifth save.
Kentucky has now won 20 of its last 22 games and is 10-0 versus ranked team. The Cats have 21 home runs in their last six games.
The teams play again at 2 this afternoon.
Game Notes
Junior Ryan Waldschmidt was 2-for-4 with a run, two RBI, a double and solo HR.
He clubbed his third home run of the week.
For the week he is 5-of-9 with two doubles, three home runs and eight RBI.
It was his 11th multi-hit game of the season and 23rd career.
It was his 7th multi-RBI game and 18th career.
Junior Nolan McCarthy was 2-for-4 with two runs and a solo HR.
It was his 9th multi-hit game of the season and 17th career.
It was his 6th homer of the season.
He has reached safely in 10 straight games.
Senior Nick Lopez walked to extend his games reaching safely streak to 13.
Senior Trey Pooser allowed just three runs in 6.0 IP.
Senior Johnny Hummel earned his 5th save.
One Response
Every sport and event with UK on the jersey or shirt is significant in making UK the best of the best.
Congrats to an impressive UK baseball team with hitters & pitchers doing an outstanding job!