It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t easy. But it was a much needed win.
Despite being outhit 13 to 6 and dealing with constant pressure from Ole Miss, Kentucky baseball scratched out a 5-4 walk-off win in 10 innings, proving once again that clutch moments and timely execution matter more than box score beauty.
This win, Kentucky’s latest example of resilience, keeps the Wildcats surging in SEC play—and it came in true grind it out fashion, fueled by doing the little things right.
How It happened: Kentucky grinds its way to victory
Things got wild late at Kentucky Proud Park, but the Cats did most of their damage early. Kentucky jumped ahead with a run in the second and a three-spot in the third, aided by Ole Miss’ inability to control the strike zone.
From there, it was a slow grind for both teams. Ole Miss clawed back with two runs in the fifth, then tied things up with runs in the seventh and eighth. Kentucky’s offense went cold—but its pitching held just enough, though not as good as it needs to be.
In the bottom of the 10th, after drawing five walks and being hit by four pitches throughout the game, Kentucky finally broke through again.
Then came the walk-off moment. A hit by pitch, a popout, a balk, and a walk led to Devin Burkes being at the plate. Burkes—who had two hits and two RBIs on the night—stepped up again, putting the ball in play and driving in the winning run. Just like that, Kentucky walked it off 5-4.
Bullpen does just enough
This game was truly a bullpen battle. Starter Nate Harris gave Kentucky 3.2 solid innings, allowing no earned runs while striking out three. But the story was the six-man relay behind him, combining for 6.1 innings of sometimes great and sometimes questionable pitching.
James McCoy earned the win with two scoreless innings, shutting the door when the Rebels threatened late. The staff gave up 13 hits overall but limited the damage for the most part, stranding runners and forcing Ole Miss to earn every inch.
Offensive highlights: Making the most of less
While Kentucky was outhit 13 to 6, their offensive patience was the difference.
Devin Burkes went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a walk.
Tyler Bell added a double and scored a run.
Griffin Cameron and Luke Lawrence chipped in with timely base knocks.
That’s the kind of baseball that wins games in the SEC—disciplined, and unafraid to take what’s given.
What’s next for Kentucky baseball?
This walk-off win hopefully gives the Cats an edge the rest of the series. Game 2 of the double-header is going on now, in the bottom of the 1st scoreless.
Another win means a series victory and against a top 10 team, that is a good sign going forward.