After a rough four-game losing skid, Kentucky baseball bounced back in a big way against a ranked SEC foe.
On Friday night at Kentucky Proud Park, the Wildcats (26-20; 11-14 SEC) overcame an early deficit to take the first game of the series against No. 14 Oklahoma, winning 4-3. Facing a projected first-round MLB Draft pick on the mound in Kyson Witherspoon, Kentucky racked up six hits and four earned runs before he was relieved after five innings of work.
Currently sitting on the NCAA Tournament bubble, the Bat Cats need to win this weekend’s series to lock up a spot in the postseason. After being swept by one of the conference’s bottom teams in Mississippi State last weekend, Kentucky is off to a great start against the Sooners.
Kentucky nearly got itself into some trouble to open Game 1. Oklahoma had two runners in scoring position in the top of the first, but Nate Harris was able to work his way out of the jam and leave the Sooners stranded. But UK would do the same in the bottom of the second as the first two innings saw both teams held without a run.
The hitting picked up in the third inning, though. Oklahoma got the scoring started with a pair of runs in the top of the inning, but Kentucky countered with four more to take a lead it would not give up. Tyler Bell was the first to run across home plate thanks to a double from Luke Lawrence. Cole Hage then drilled a home run to score himself and Lawrence. A James McCoy single brought home Carson Hansen to complete UK’s four-run third inning.
Kentucky was held scoreless the rest of the game, but great pitching and defense kept Oklahoma at bay. The Sooners only managed one more run in the top of the fifth. Jackson Nove took over on the mound from there for the ‘Cats, allowing just two hits and no runs in 3.1 innings pitched while picking up the win. Simon Gregersen came in for the save in the ninth to cap off the series-opening victory.
Game two on Saturday is set for 12:30 p.m. ET back. It will be broadcast on the SEC Network. It’ll be Senior Day at KPP with pregame ceremonies beginning at 11:50 a.m. ET.
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