Kentucky evens series with 9-2 win over Missouri
Kentucky evened the series with Missouri in a dominating 9-2 win at Kentucky Proud Park on Saturday afternoon.
A night after a disappointing 5-4 loss to Missouri on Friday, No. 24 Kentucky routed the Tigers 9-2 to even the series at one game apiece.
The Wildcats scored in each of the first three innings off Missouri starter Brady Kehlenbrink and took a commanding 8-0 lead on a two-out grand slam by left fielder Scott Campbell in the third inning. Campbell, who was making his first start since March 13 against Alabama, only had one hit in SEC play entering Saturday's contest.
"He threw the same slider in about the same spot, and I took it first pitch, and then he threw it again," Campbell said. "I was just looking to put the ball in play hard with the bases loaded and two outs."
Sophomore shortstop Tyler Bell crushed a 425-foot two-run homer over the left-center field wall to open the scoring for the Wildcats in the first inning. Bell, however, exited the game during the seventh inning. He was gimpy running down the first base line in his at-bat during the sixth inning but didn't receive attention from the trainer at that point. He was removed a few pitches into the seventh inning.
After the game, Kentucky coach Nick Mingione said Bell was cramping.
"He gets that occasionally," Mingione said. "He did make me laugh. He was like 'coach, I only drank one energy drink today too.' But he gets those occasionally. He did the right thing by letting us put somebody else in... fully expect him to be back, so he'll be good there."
The Wildcats tacked on a run in the second inning after a poor pickoff attempt to second base by Kehlenbrink ended up in center field, allowing Jayce Tharnish to score to make it 3-0.
The early cushion was enough for sophomore starting pitcher Nate Harris. Harris opened the game with four straight scoreless innings before Missouri broke through with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. The Tigers opened the inning with three straight singles, the last of which scored the first run of the game. Harris allowed another run before getting out of the inning. He came back out for the sixth inning but allowed a leadoff double to Missouri center fielder Kaden Peer, who then moved up to third base on a wild pitch. Following a walk to No. 3 hitter Jase Woita, Kentucky coach Nick Mingione turned to redshirt junior reliever Ryan Mullan.
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is a proud supporter! Located in Beaumont Centre in Lexington, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii prides itself as a leader in sharing a wide variety of Hawaiian coffees. Whether you are in the mood for black coffee, a handcrafted latte, matcha, mana energy drink, or a variety of food items Bad Ass Coffee has just the thing for you! Once you get hooked on the coffee they have plenty of at home coffee available for purchase in store! So start your season off like a Bad Ass and visit them today! PLUS, they are offering our readers 20% off their orders! Just show this email, or if ordering online, apply coupon code "UKBaseball" at checkout and have a Bad Ass Day!
Mullan struck out Pierre Seals for the first out, then got Eric Maisonet to fly out to left field. Peer was tagging up on the play but was cut down at home plate by Campbell in left to keep the score at 8-2.
That play closed Harris' line at five innings pitched, five hits allowed, two earned runs, three strikeouts and one walk. It was a good bounce back performance for Harris, who had allowed a combined nine earned runs over his past two road starts in losses against Ole Miss and LSU.
"I thought Nate's first inning was fantastic," Mingione said. "What an outing by Nate. Man, he was fantastic."
Kentucky added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Right fielder Will Marcy reached first to lead off the inning after an error by the shortstop and came around to score on Luke Lawrence's second infield bunt hit of the afternoon.
Mullan, Ira Austin, Leighton Harris and Tristan Hunter each threw a scoreless inning out of the bullpen to lock down the victory.
Tharnish led the way with three hits for Kentucky. Campbell drove in four runs, Bell collected two RBIs, Lawrence had one RBI and junior catcher Tagger Tyson also added an RBI single.
The two teams will play for the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Junior left-hander Ben Cleaver is the probable starting pitcher for Kentucky. Missouri has not named a starter and is expected to treat it as a bullpen game.
