Cardiac Cats: Kentucky Baseball Wins in Thrilling Walk-Off Fashion

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 21:26:19 +0000

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky is starting to become pretty good at the whole walk-off win thing.

The Wildcats scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Butler, 6-5, at Kentucky Proud Park on Tuesday night, the team’s second walk-off victory in the past three games. The Cats (14-4) now have eight walk-off wins since Nick Mingione took over as head coach before the 2017, closing their 18-game homestand to open the season in style.

“I told our team we needed a come from behind win,” Mingione said. “You want them to experience everything. We needed that one.”

Trailing 5-2 and down to their final three outs the Cats finally broke through on what had been a frustrating night to that point. Oraj Anu opened the inning with a double before John Rhodes took a 3-2 pitch off the thigh. T.J. Collett walked to load the bases to set up Trae Harmon’s two-run, line drive single to centerfield to pull within one run.

Zeke Lewis, who was inserted as a pinch runner for Harmon, stole second to put the winning run in scoring position and watched as Coltyn Kessler battled to a full count before lacking a high fly to deep left-centerfield. When the ball ricocheted off the glove of a diving centerfielder Lewis raced home from second, setting off a wild celebration that streamed across the infield and out toward Kessler at second base.

“Just trying to pass a good at-bat to the next guy,” Kessler said. “I got a good, hanging pitch to hit and put a good swing on it.”

The Cats now head to Auburn for their first road trip of the season and will do so with soaring confidence.

GAME SCORING
Bottom 1st – Austin Schultz doubled to LCF and scored on Oraj Anu’s single up the middle. UK 1, Butler 0.

Bottom 3^rd – John Rhodes doubled down the LF line, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Coltyn Kessler’s single to LF. UK 2, Butler 0.

Top 6^th – Steinhart walked, moved to second on a groundout and scored on Bennett’s grounder through the right side. UK 2, Butler 1.

Top 7^th – McGrath homered to LF. Orn walked, advanced on a throwing error by the catcher and to third on single by Gargano. Matos doubled into the RF corner, scoring Orn. Steinhart singled, Gargano scored, Matos to third. Butler 4, UK 2.

Top 8^th – McGargar homered to LF. Butler 5, UK 2.

Bottom 9^th – Anu doubled to LCF, Rhodes was hit by a pitch and Collett walked to load the bases. Trae Harmon lined a single to CF, scoring Anu and Rhodes. Jaren Shelby and Zeke Lewis pinch ran for Collett and Harmon. Lewis stole second. Kessler doubled to deep LCF, scoring Shelby and Lewis. UK 6, Butler 5.

NOTES

Thrilling on Le Magasin

Cardiac Cats: Kentucky Baseball Wins in Thrilling Walk-Off Fashion