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Before starting their most important series of the season this weekend, the Kentucky Wildcats took a break from conference play to battle an Indiana Hoosiers team that has been ranked for much of the 2019 season.
In front of their home crowd, the Cats were able to deliver a 5-2 victory in their annual matchup with the Hoosiers.
The Cats were able to get off to an early lead Tuesday night, despite not producing a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning.
After Jimmy Ramsey pitched a scoreless top of the first, his offense quickly gave him run support. Both Ryan Shinn who was hit by a pitch and Ryan Johnson who walked scored on a wild pitch after Indiana could not locate the baseball, as the Cats took an early 2-0 lead.
T2 | UK 2, IU 0
— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) May 7, 2019
The Cats get a pair of runs on one wild pitch as Ryan Johnson scored from third and @TheRealShinny rode the hustle bus from second as Indiana couldn't locate the ball! #WeAreUK
In the top of the third, Indiana got on the board as Drew Ashley ripped an RBI single to cut Kentucky’s lead in half.
Both offenses would remain quiet until the bottom of the fifth when Elliot Curtis put Kentucky back on the board with an RBI single to score Ryan Johnson and extend the Cats lead. Later that inning, the Hoosiers defensive woes would continue, as a throwing error by Ryan Fineman allowed Shinn to score and push the Wildcat lead to 4-1.
Indiana would add a run in the top of the seventh, but in the bottom half of the inning, the Cats would have a quick response as Coltyn Kessler ripped an RBI single, and Kentucky took a 5-2 lead that they would not relinquish.
In the final two innings, Nick Mingione called on Trip Lockhart to shut the door. The sophomore would deliver as he recorded the final six outs sealing a Wildcat win.
With their most recent home stand now in the books, Kentucky (24-24) will next travel to South Carolina to take on a Gamecocks team that has the same goal as the Wildcats. Make it to the SEC Tournament,
With the bottom two teams in the league not invited to the tournament, this series holds significant importance for both clubs.
As the standings stand now, South Carolina is the odd team out with the Cats tied with the Alabama Crimson Tide for the final spot in the tournament. Thus, to stay ahead of the Gamecocks, a series win is imperative.
The series will kick off Friday night with the series wrapping up Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to catch all the action from Columbia on SEC Network Plus.