Kentucky Baseball defeats Michigan

Tuesday night saw the Kentucky Wildcats play their final non-conference game of 2019 against the Michigan Wolverines at Kentucky Proud Park.

In the top of the first inning, the Cats were able to manufacture a run to take an early lead. Ryan Johnson led the ball game off with a walk and found his way around the bases.

Johnson moved to second after Ryan Shinn was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on an Elliot Curtis sacrifice bunt, and then came into score on a balk from Michigan starting pitcher Walker Cleveland as Kentucky jumped in front 1-0.

After failing to score in the games first two innings, Michigan got to Kentucky starter Jimmy Ramsey in the top of the third, as Jimmy Kerr hit a sacrifice fly to score Jesse Franklin and tie the game at 1-1.

In the top of the fifth, Michigan would take the lead as Jordan Brewer hit a two-run home run making it a 3-1 game.

The lead wouldn’t last for long, however, as the cardiac Cats rallied in the bottom half of the inning.

Curtis put the Cats within one with an RBI single to score Alex Rodriguez and then Coltyn Kessler gave Kentucky the lead with a two-run double, which was followed by an Austin Schultz sacrifice fly, putting Kentucky up 5-3.

With the lead 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Cats tacked on insurance runs. Jaren Shelby scored on a bases loaded walk by Dalton Reed, and Alex Rodriguez reached on an error, allowing Cam Hill to score as Kentucky took a late 7-4 lead.

With a three-run lead, the Wildcat bullpen was able to close out the Wolverines as the Wildcats picked up their 26th win of the season.

With the win, the Wildcats now head into a crucial final series of the regular season with the No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores.

As of now, the Cats are currently in a three-way tie with Alabama and South Carolina the last place in the SEC standings. Only one of these teams will make it to the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. Thus the Cats will need to upset the second-ranked Commodores and get help.

The series with Vanderbilt will take place Thursday-Saturday at Kentucky Proud Park, as the Wildcats will look to extend their 2019 season.

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