Kentucky baseball (16-9, 3-5 SEC) outlasted Texas A&M (13-13, 1-7 SEC) in offensive slugfest by a score of 14-11 to even the series.
Like in game one, the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the first on a single by Patrick Herrera. However, the Aggies put up three off of Nic McCay to take their first lead of the game.
After both teams were held scoreless in the second, Cole Hage hit a two-run homerun that tied the game 3-3. The tie only lasted one batter into the third as Wyatt Henseler hit a home run that swung the lead back to Texas A&M.
Devin Burkes took the lead right back for Kentucky on a two-run home, but the Aggies matched it with one of their own to take a 7-6 lead.
The sixth changed the game as the momentum swung fully into Kentucky’s favor as it plated six runs.
In that sixth, the Bat Cats loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch, walk and single before Burkes singled to tie the game 6-6.
Shaun Montya was hit by a pitch to break the tie and give Kentucky the lead. Luke Lawrence added to the lead on a sacrifice fly.
The bases were reloaded after Hage was walked and Hudson Brown was plunked to bring home another run.
Tyler Bell capped off the six-run inning with a single that scored two and gave Kentucky an 11-6 lead.
The score got a lot tighter in the seventh when Tommy Skelding loaded the bases on a walk, hit-by-pitch and single.
Simon Gregersen came on and gave up a grand slam to Bear Harrison to slim the Cats lead to 11-10. A single ended Gregersen’s day.
Hayden Smith came out of the bullpen next, and he walked the only batter he faced. Nick Mingione came back out of the dugout to call upon Cole Hentschel who got a flyout and strikeout to end the inning.
Bell gave the Wildcats some breathing room with a two-run home run that extended the lead. Hindle gave Kentucky a 14-10 lead with a home run of his own.
The eighth was not any easier for Kentucky as Hentschel walked the first batter he faced in the eighth, which ended his afternoon as Evan Byers took over on the hill.
The lefty sandwiched an out between a walk and single that loaded the bases. Byers escaped the jam by getting a flyout to keep the Cats’ lead intact.
Ethan Walker came on in the ninth and got two outs before loading the bases on a single along with two walks. James McCoy inherited a 2-0 count and surrendered the walk to bring in a run.
McCoy got a flyout to end the game and secure the series-tying win.
As indicated by the high score, offense was on display as the teams combined for 24 hits and 9 home runs. The Aggies sent five homers over the fence and Kentucky hit four in the contest.
Bell led the offense by going 4-5 with a home run, double and four RBIs.
Burkes had a nice day as well going 2-5 with a home run, single, and three RBIs.
Kentucky and Texas A&M will play a series-deciding game three on Sunday, March 30, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET.
