Kentucky Loses First Game of Series Against Volunteers 8-2

Kentucky traveled to Knoxville for a three-game weekend series against the Tennesee
Volunteers in Lindsey Nelson Stadium, losing 8-2.

The starting lineup for the Cats was: Patrick Herrera, Tyler Bell, Kyuss Gargett, Devin Burkes,
Ryan Schwartz, Cole Hage, Luke Lawrence, James McCoy and Dylan Koont. The starting
pitcher was Nate Harris.

Kentucky scored their first and only run of the game at the top of the first inning. Herrera hit a
single to left field and then Burkes followed by crushing a homerun to right field, scoring Herrera
and himself giving the Cats two runs.

The game was delayed after a fast ball found its way to the home plate umpire’s hand. The
umpire did not return and with nobody extra on stand-by the rest of the game was played out
with only three umpires.

Tennessee got to a quick start at the bottom of the first. Dean Curley hit a single followed by a
bunt from Gavin Kilen that put him on base. A wild pitch left both runners advancing, and
Andrew Fischer was walked, loading up the bases for the Vols. Dalton Bargo then hit home
Curley.

Tennessee continued momentum with Reese Chapman hitting a single to bring home the rest of
the runners. The score of the game didn’t change until the bottom of the fifth when Curley drilled
a home run up center field making the score now 4-2.

At the top of the sixth, Harris was taken off the mound with Evan Byers coming in as relief. At
the bottom of the frame Manny Marin got on base with a single out to right field and then
Cannon Peebles hit a homer to right bringing in two more runs for the Vols.

Robert Hogan then came out of the bullpen to take over for Byers. The final runs of the game
were scored when Peebles hit another homerun to put the game away for the Vols and make it
8-2 final.

Kentucky baseball will return tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET to play the second game of the weekend.

Written By: Ainsley Saurers