The Kentucky Wildcats played their second game of the day in the weekend series against the
South Carolina Gamecocks, falling 5-4.
The starting lineup for the Cats was Tyler Bell, Kyuss Gargett, Hudson Brown, Devin Burkes,
Carson Hansen, Ryan Schwartz, Luke Lawrence, James McCoy and Cole Hage. Nic McCay
was on the mound to start for the Cats.
South Carolina struck early in the top of the first inning. Henry Kaczmar doubled up centerfield
and then advanced to third. Kennedy Jones hit a single up the middle to bring home Kaczmar
for the game’s first run.
Kentucky responded in the bottom of the first with a home run from Bell, but it would be their
only run before closing out the inning, 1-1.
Kentucky kept the momentum going in the bottom of the second, adding two more runs to the
board. Lawrence singled to left to get on base, and Hage followed with a home run to bring both
himself and Lawrence across home plate giving Kentucky a 3-1 lead.
South Carolina answered in the top of the third. Evan Stone singled to reach base, followed by
Kaczmar who mimicked and Stone advanced to third. Nathan Hall hit a double to score both
Stone and Kaczmar and tie up the game, 3-3.
At the top of the fourth, Nile Adcock came in to relieve McCay. The Cats took the lead in the
bottom of the fifth. Gargett hit a double out to left field and then advanced to third off a pitching
error. Burkes got hit by a pitch to get on base. Hansen laid out a sacrifice bunt which advanced
Burkes and brought Gargett home giving the Cats a 4-3 lead.
At the start of the seventh inning, Scott Rouse came in to relieve Adcock. In the top of the
eighth, the Gamecocks broke through. Dalton Masjore singled and then stole second. Cole
Hentschel then came to relieve Rouse. Mashore advanced to third on a passed ball and Will
Tippett followed with a home run, scoring both himself and Mashore to give the Gamecocks a
5-4 lead.
At the start of the seventh inning, Scott Rouse came in to relieve Adcock. At the top of the
eighth the Gamecocks found their footing. Dalton Mashore hit a single and then stole second.
Cole Hentschel came to relieve Rouse from the mound. Mashore then advanced to third on a
passed ball. Will Tippett hit a homer that scored himself and Mashore putting the Gamecocks in
the lead, 5-4.
There was no other scoring, ending the game to give the Gamecocks a 5-4 win. Kentucky will
return tomorrow at 1 p.m., looking for one more victory that would secure them the weekend
series.
Written By: Ainsley Saurers
