The Kentucky Wildcats lost to the Georgia Bulldogs 12-6 on Friday March 14th in Georgia. This
was the first SEC matchup for the Cats.
The starting line up for the Cats was Shaun Montoya, Luke Lawrence, Cole Hage, Tyler Bell,
Dylan Koontz, Devin Burkes, Patrick Herrera, Griffin Cameron, and Rapheal Pelletier.
Montoya and Lawrence both walked which set the stage for Hage. Hage hit a dinger to left field,
landing three runs for the Cats–a solid start for Kentucky. Bell then struck out at the plate and
Koontz was hit by a pitch and walked to first.
Burkes swung and hit a ball out to first that landed in the glove of a Georgia Bulldog and Herrera
followed with a walk. Cameron hit one out to shortstop, but Georgia turned the play at second
ending the top of the first.
Nic McCay took the mound for his first SEC game of the season. The strike zone was snug for
McCay as he gave up two walks which later resulted in two runs for the Bulldogs making the
score 3-2.
It was a quick top of the second for the Cats which was followed by a quick inning for the
Bulldogs. Despite the quick turnaround, Georgia lost their lead off hitter as he limped off the
field following a double-play.
Hage struck out and Bell was walked to get things started in the third inning. Koontz was hit by
the ball and then Burkes brought home Bell and moved Koontz to third. Herrera then swung a
single that furthered the Cats lead 6-2 bringing home Burkes and Koontz.
McCay returned to the mound and continued to battle, hitting two batters and walking another,
which resulted in loaded bases. Senior Evan Byers came to relieve McCay and started off
striking out a Bulldog. However, a wild pitch brought in another run for Kentucky to make it 6-3.
Byers then started to struggle, hitting two batters and walking one, similarly to McCay. Kentucky
went for another pitching change calling in Jackson Nove, but Nove balked allowing for another
Georgia run.
Nove continued to try and contain the damage for the Cats, but gave away two more runs
allowing the Bulldogs to catch up and tie the game, 6-6. Two more Bulldogs found their way
home, the score now 9-6.
Kentucky had their fourth pitcher change, putting in Robert Hogan, but it was the same story for
the Cats. Hogan gave away a walk and then hit a batter, and then the Bulldogs just surged adding
another three runs making it 12-6.
Kentucky could not recover, ending in a loss for their first SEC matchup. The Cats will return to
play Georgia again Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.
Written By: Ainsley Saurers
Photos: On3
