The Kentucky Wildcats came out swinging on Tuesday night, delivering a dominant 17-5 victory over in-state rival #19 Louisville at Kentucky Proud Park. The game, which ended in a 7-inning run-rule win, saw Kentucky’s offense explode for 17 runs on 11 hits, while their pitching staff held Louisville’s potent lineup to just 5 runs on 9 hits.
Explosive offense powers Wildcats to victory
Kentucky wasted no time asserting control, scoring in every inning but the 7th. The Wildcats put up a 1-4-1-4-7 run distribution that showcased their ability to score in bunches. A standout performance came from Patrick Herrera, who was a force at the plate, driving in 5 RBIs, including a 3-run home run in the 4th inning. Kyuss Gargett also delivered a monster performance, adding 3 RBIs of his own, including a home run in the 4th.
A slew of other Wildcats contributed to the onslaught, including Carson Hansen, who drove in 3 runs, and Tyler Bell, who had 2 RBIs with a 1-for-3 performance. Luke Lawrence and Cole Hage rounded out the offensive fireworks, with Lawrence adding 2 hits and Hage contributing 3 runs scored.
The offensive barrage overwhelmed Louisville’s pitching staff, forcing them into constant rotations. TJ Schlageter, Louisville's starter, struggled early, allowing 4 runs in just 1.2 innings, and the Cardinals were never able to recover.
Pitching staff delivers in all phases
On the mound, Ethan Walker was the star for Kentucky, earning the win after pitching 4 innings, allowing 6 hits, and 2 earned runs, while striking out 6. The bullpen picked up where he left off, with Scott Rouse, Nile Adcock, Tristan Hunter, and Hayden Smith all contributing solid innings. Smith was particularly impressive, throwing a perfect inning with 1 strikeout and allowing no runs.
With the game out of reach, Louisville's pitchers were unable to find any rhythm, as Casen Murphy and Kian Vorster each allowed 3 earned runs in brief appearances. The Cardinals' pitching staff was battered by a relentless Kentucky offense that showed no mercy.
Louisville’s struggles and bright spots
Louisville managed to scrape together 5 runs, but it was clear from the start that Kentucky’s dominance on both sides of the ball was insurmountable. Lucas Moore had a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, while Jake Munroe also added 2 hits and an RBI.
George Baker, Zion Rose, and Kamau Neighbors all struggled at the plate, combining to go 0-for-9 with 5 strikeouts.
BBN relishes in back to back rivalry wins
Kentucky’s 17-5 win over Louisville serves as a statement victory for Nick Mingione's program, one that bolsters the Wildcats’ confidence after taking 2 of 3 from top 5 Tennessee on the road in Knoxville over the weekend. With a dominating performance across the board, Kentucky proved why they’re a force to be reckoned with in the SEC and the national landscape.
The Cats are still struggling overall in SEC play, but have gotten hot at the right time. They needed some big wins to boost their postseason chances, and taking 3 of 4 from top 20 teams is a way to do that. Kentucky now sits just 1 spot out of the top 25 in RPI coming in at number 26. A far cry from the near 50's just 2 weeks ago.
Up next is a weekend series with South Carolina at home, sweep that series and things will be looking really good.
Final Score: Kentucky 17 (23-15), Louisville 5 (28-12)
Box score highlights:
Patrick Herrera – 3-for-3, 5 RBIs, HR
Kyuss Gargett – 2-for-3, 3 RBIs, HR
Carson Hansen – 1-for-3, 3 RBIs, HR
Ethan Walker – 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 6 K, Win