If you’re looking for a statement win, look no further than what Kentucky baseball just pulled off.
With an 8–2 victory on Sunday, the Wildcats took two out of three games on the road from No. 2 Tennessee, winning a marquee SEC series that could reverberate deep into postseason seeding. Road series wins in the SEC are tough. But winning a series in Knoxville, against one of the hottest teams in the country? That’s elite.
A blue-collar beatdown
Kentucky didn’t just win—they dominated. The Wildcats pounded out 11 hits, played error-free defense, and got a masterclass outing from starter Ben Cleaver, who silenced Tennessee’s powerful lineup with seven innings of two-run ball. Cleaver struck out seven, walked just one, and never let the Vols build momentum.
Simon Gregersen slammed the door with two shutout innings to close it out.
Offensively, Carson Hansen sparked the lineup with two hits and two runs, while Griffin Cameron and Devin Burkes delivered clutch RBIs in the late innings. Kentucky plated three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth, putting the game—and the series—out of reach.
Top performers
Ben Cleaver: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K — Absolute command of the zone.
Griffin Cameron: 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 RBI in just one at-bat.
Devin Burkes: 2-for-3, RBI, BB — veteran presence behind the plate and in the batter's box.
Carson Hansen: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 runs — spark plug in the heart of the order.
On the other side, Tennessee managed just six hits and committed two errors, looking rattled by Kentucky’s relentless approach. The Vols’ bats, which had been scorching all season, were neutralized when it mattered most.
Wildcats making noise
With this series win, Kentucky sends a loud message: don’t sleep on the Cats. This team is tough, confident, and capable of beating anyone—anywhere. It wasn’t just a win—it was a tone-setter in the race for the post season.
And while Knoxville is known for its home-field advantage, this weekend, it was Big Blue Nation celebrating in enemy territory.