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One night after scoring 10 unanswered runs but coming up just short of a historic comeback victory, the Kentucky Wildcats were back on the diamond for Game 2 of their final regular-season series against No. 2 Vanderbilt.
After both teams failed to score in the opening frame, Vanderbilt opened the scoring in the top of the second. Stephen Scott, who hit two home runs in the series opener Thursday, struck again with a solo shot to straightaway center to put the Commodores up 1-0 early.
Kentucky would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning with a sacrifice fly by Dalton Reed, but the game would not stay even for long.
In the top of the third, the Commodores rallied for six runs to take a 7-1 lead and knock out starter Dillon Marsh after just three innings of work.
Like Thursday night, however, the Cats would not go down quietly. With the score 8-1, Kentucky was able to cut into the Vanderbilt lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Zeke Lewis got the rally started with a double and then later came around to score on a wild pitch to make it an 8-2 ball-game. A few batters later, Elliott Curtis delivered with a two-run single as Kentucky cut the lead to 8-4.
This would be as close as they’d cut things however as Vanderbilt tacked on a run in the top of the sixth and three in the top of the eighth as they coasted to a 12-4 victory.
Despite the loss, Kentucky’s SEC Tournament hopes are still alive ending the final day of the regular season. Both Alabama and South Carolina lost, meaning the three clubs are still in a three-way tie for the final spot in Hoover.
In addition to tomorrow being a must-win game, the Wildcats will also honor their seniors as it will be the last time they will suit up in Lexington. It also may be the last game as a Wildcat for junior Zack Thompson, who will make what could be his final college start before next month’s MLB Draft, where he will likely be selected within the first round.
Be sure to catch all the action on SEC+ or the UK Sports Radio Network.