EKU Rallies in the Middle Innings to Upset Bat Cats, 5-4

One game does not tell the story of an entire season. Yet Kentucky’s (27-18, 11-10) 5-4 loss to the Eastern Kentucky Colonels (21-25, 10-11) at Cliff Hagan Stadium last night raises enough question to turn the old adage on its head.

Much like they did early this season and during the SEC campaign, the Wildcats started the game hot. A pair of singles in the bottom of the 2nd inning by Riley Mahan(1-4, 1 RBI) and Kole Cottam (1-2, 1 RBI) put the Wildcats out in front 2-0.

In the bottom of the 3rd, with two outs and Luke Becker on base after a walk, JaVon Shelby (2-4, 2 RBI) hit one deep over the left field wall for the second game in a row to extend the Bat Cats lead to 4-0.

The next inning, EKU pulled starter Nick Cumpston after a dismal three innings where he gave up four runs, five hits and two walks. His replacement, Chris Cervantes, brought out another skeleton from the Cats’ closet, a pitcher who tossed his best game of the year; one that Kentucky’s batters failed to solve.

Cervantes tossed six innings in relief in which he gave up a single hit, struck out five batters, walked two and most importantly did not allow a run.

Starting in the top of the 5th, the Colonels took control of the game and shelled UK starter Zach Logue for three runs. The awful inning prematurely ended Logue’s day. He finished with only three hits allowed, three walks and two strikeouts.

Zack Pop replaced Logue but gave up two more runs in the top of the 6th.

Zack Streckner and Justin Lewis combined to finish the final four innings and did a commendable job. They allowed a combined three hits, no runs and struck out four batters total.

However, Kentucky was never able to threaten in the later innings and went quietly, once again, into the night.