Kentucky’s season comes to an end with loss to Vanderbilt

Looking to keep their SEC tournament hopes alive, the Kentucky Wildcats sent ace Zack Thompson to the hill in an attempt to save their season against Vanderbilt.

The game would get off to an unusual rough start for Thompson, as on his very first pitch of the game, Austin Martin smashed a solo home run to put Vanderbilt in front.

It seemed as if it would be another long day at the ballpark for the Wildcats, as they trailed 4-1 going into the bottom of the fifth, but Dalton Reed gave the team life. Reed slugged a solo home run to cut the Vanderbilt lead to 4-2. Later in the inning, Ryan Johnson hit an RBI single on his senior day to put the Cats within one.

Two innings later, the Wildcats tied the game as Jaren Shelby drove in Cam Hill to tie the game.

The game would stay tied until the top of the ninth when the long ball game back to bite Kentucky.

JJ Bleday and Ethan Paul hit back to back solo home runs that highlighted a three-run inning, as Vanderbilt took a 7-4 lead they would not let go of.

Despite the loss, there was still hope Kentucky could clinch a spot in the SEC Tournament if they were to see both Alabama and South Carolina lose.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. Alabama would fall to Georgia, but South Carolina earned a victory over Mississippi State to clinch the final spot in Hoover.

Stay tuned for a season recap here in the coming days.