The Kentucky Wildcats finished out a rainy weekend series against Ole Miss losing the final
game 4-5 in twelve innings on Saturday. This was their second loss of the weekend, giving Ole
Miss the win for the series.
The starting lineup for the Cats was: Luke Lawrence, Cole Hage, Hudson Brown, Tyler Bell,
Patrick Herrera, Devin Burkes, Griffin Cameron, Ethan Hindle and James McCoy. Ben Cleaver
was on the mound to start for the Cats.
The first inning was scoreless. In the top of the second, Ole Miss; Judd Utermark reached base
before Cleaver struck out Ryan Moerman. Hayden Federico followed with a double and then
Isaac Humphrey had a sacrifice hit to right field to bring in a run for Ole Miss. Cleaver wrapped
things up striking out Austin Fawley.
Kentucky quickly responded in the bottom half. Bell hit a double and Herrera followed with a
shot out to right field. Burked then hit a single to bring Bell home to tie up the game. That was all
for the Cats until the bottom of the third.
Hage singled to reach first and Brown followed with a hit that allowed Hage to advance to third.
Herrera brought Hage home with an RBI putting the cats ahead, 2-1. Ole Miss responded at the
top of the fifth when Humphrey cranked a homerun tying the game, 2-2.
The game went into a lull with five straight scoreless innings. Kentucky rotated through four
pitchers, beginning with Simon Gregersen stepping in to relieve Cleaver at the end of the sixth.
Cole Hentschel relieved Gregersen in the bottom of the eighth, followed by Tommy Skelding
after the ninth. Robert Hogan was the fourth pitcher to take the mound, stepping in for Skelding.
At the top of the 11th, Hogan walked Utermark, loading up the bases for Ole Miss. Hindle
managed to stop Mitchell Sanford before he could score, but Federico hit a grounder which
brought Ethan Suroweic home, giving Ole Miss a one-run lead.
The Cats tied it up in the bottom of the inning. Herrera, Burkes and Hindle each walked to load
the bases up. Lawrence then singled, bringing home Gargett, who had come in to run for
Herrera. That was all for the inning, sending the game into its 12th and final frame.
Brayden Randle led off with a single, followed by a Luke Hill home run that put Ole Miss ahead
by two runs, 5-3. In the bottom of the 12th, Hage opened with a home run bringing the Cats
within one, but that was as far as they would get, sealing the win for Ole Miss.
The Cats will return to action on Tuesday at 8 p.m. traveling to play the Louisville Cardinals.
Written By: Ainsley Saurers
