April 27, 2024

By Matt May

Kentucky Athletics

COLUMBIA, S.C. – These Wildcats like their thrillers.

No. 4 Kentucky gave up a six-run first inning before scoring 11 unanswered runs to erase a five-run deficit and later survive a wild ninth inning to claim a 15-13 victory over the No. 19 South Carolina Gamecosk in a second drama-filled contest in as many nights at Founders Park.

With the win Kentucky clinches a winning record in Southeastern Conference play for just the eighth time in its history and moves to 33-8 on the season, 16-4 in conference play.

The Cats scored five runs each in the fourth and fifth innings before tacking on three more in the ninth. The insurance runs proved critical as South Carolina scored two in the ninth and left the bases loaded to end the game when centerfielder Nolan McCarthy made a leaping grab at the wall on Tristan Casas’ potential game-winning drive.

Grant Smith drove in four runs, Ryan Nicholson hit a pair of home runs and Ryan Waldschmidt extended his hit streak to 12 games with four more knocks and four runs scored on the night.

Smith and Emilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) also executed a gutsy double steal that included Pitre swiping home. As Pitre broke for home Smith took off from first and intentionally stumbled, drawing the attention of pitcher Matthew Becker. By the time Becker realized what was happening, Pitre slid safely into home and Smith scrambled to second.

Pitre went 2-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs and a steal. He has reached base in 18 straight games. He is hitting .305 with 14 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 30 RBIs. As well, he has a .901 OPS in 41 games.

NOTES

-Kentucky now is 33-8 in 2024, 16-4 in Southeastern Conference play, 14-2 in night games, 9-4 in April, 9-2 in SEC road games, 5-15 all-time at Founders Park.

-Kentucky is 11-3 vs. ranked teams and 14-3 vs. Quad 1 opponents.

-Kentucky pitchers have struck out 30 Gamecocks in two games, has hit 33 home runs in its last 10 games, four-plus homers in a game six times this season, five in SEC play.

-Kentucky scored three or more runs in an inning for the 53rd, 54th and 55th times this season.

-Kentucky stole 7-of-8 bases in the game, the second time this season UK has stolen seven bags (at Auburn), as UK pulled off a double steal that included Pitre swiping home.

-Grant Smith stole three bags.