Kentucky’s pitching in the second inning proved to be the deciding factor in Kentucky’s (26-10, 8-9 SEC) heartbreaking loss against Vanderbilt (24-17, 8-9 SEC).
The Wildcats’ pitching lost control of their pitches in the second inning leading to a six-run second inning from the Commodores.
Starter Jack seemed to have all of his pitches going in the first inning, but then lost control in the top of the second inning where he only lasted 1.1 innings pitched and let up four runs and surrendered three walks as well.
The Wildcats needed four pitchers just to slow down the Vanderbilt threat in that second inning.
After the long top of the second, which was halted by a 30-minute rain delay, Will Marcy gave a lift to the ballpark with a home run over the left fielder’s shoulder.
Luke Lawrence then came up shortly after and singled through the left side of the infield to score Tyler Bell from second base.
The Wildcats got another run back in the third inning to make the score 7-3 after three innings with the Commodores in front.
To start the third inning, freshman Jack Sams came into the game and delivered three shutout innings to give a jolt to the fans at Kentucky Proud Park. He struck out four batters in three innings and only allowed two hits in those three innings.
The drama in the game ensued in the bottom of the sixth when Kentucky shortstop got ejected after he got hit by a pitch. Prior to Bell getting ejected both teams were issued an unsportsmanlike conduct warning for chirping.
Bell was not the only batter to get hit so the umpires felt giving warning was necessary. Bell kept chirping towards the Vanderbilt bench leading to his ejection.
The Wildcats kept fighting in this game after stellar pitching from Tristan Hunter gave them another three strong innings in which he allowed zero runs to keep the Wildcats still in the game.
The Commodores still hadn’t scored till this point after that six-run second inning.
Kentucky’s bats would not go down without making Vanderbilt work hard to get these outs. To start the bottom of the seventh inning a Jayce Tharnish full-count walk was followed up by Ethan Hindle getting hit by a pitch on a 2-0 count.
Scott Campbell worked the count full and took ball four to give the Cats the bases loaded. A third walk in this inning scored a run for Kentucky making it a 7-4 game after seven innings.
Vanderbilt wound up getting an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning after Michael Mancini hit a bullet into the right-centerfield gap to score Rustan Rigdon to give the Commodores a two-run lead heading into the last of the ninth inning.
The Wildcats’ comeback fell just short after the Wildcats got two men on to start the inning. Braxton Van Cleave continued his hot weekend with a two-run double that scored both runners to make the score just a one-run game with just one out in the ninth.
With Van Cleave in scoring position the Vanderbilt pitcher Brennan Seiber got both Will Marcy and Owen Jenkins out to leave Braxton Van Cleave stranded at second to tie up the series at one game apiece.
