UK Athletics Photo
For the second day in a row, No. 8 Kentucky received big-time performances from Émilien Pitreand Nick Lopez as the Wildcats defeated No. 2 Arkansas, 7-4, in a monumental rubber match at Kentucky Proud Park. Pitre and Lopez each went 2-4 with a home run and two RBI to lead the offense, while Mason Moore speared a solid pitching effort for the Kentucky staff.
In a matchup of two teams tied for first place in the Southeastern Conference, the Cats rebounded from a game one loss to lock down the series with back-to-back wins. In the two wins, Kentucky outscored Arkansas 18-7, using explosive offense and sound pitching to hand Arkansas its second series loss of the season. Kentucky’s 21 runs scored this weekend was the most allowed by Arkansas pitching in a three-game series this season.
With the win, the Wildcats (35-10, 18-6 SEC) sit alone atop the SEC standings with two weekends of play remaining. The Cats hold a one game advantage over Arkansas and No. 3 Tennessee.
The Kentucky lineup, led by Pitre and Lopez, received top-to-bottom production on Sunday, with eight of nine batters reaching safely. In addition to Pitre and Lopez, Nolan McCarthy carded a two-hit day, while Devin Burkes and Grant Smith each drove in runs on sacrifices.
On the mound, Moore led a stellar effort from the Kentucky pitching staff, which saw five Cats combine to tame the Razorbacks. Moore, a native of Morehead, Kentucky, started the game and earned the win, tossing five innings of two run baseball, only allowing three hits and striking out six. Out of the pen, Robert Hogan was tremendous once again, pitching a clean innings and picking up two punchouts. Jackson Nove and Cameron O’Brien held the Kentucky lead in tact, allowing Johnny Hummel to enter the game and earn his sixth save of the 2024 campaign.
Kentucky started the game with a first inning statement, picking up three strikeouts from Moore in the top of the inning before taking a lead it would never relinquish in the bottom of the frame, thanks to a Pitre solo home run. Another home run would extend the lead further, as Lopez lifted a ball over the left field fence and just inside the foul pole to extend the Wildcat advantage to 3-0.
A Nolan McCarthy double to lead off the fourth would spark Kentucky’s best inning of the day. A squeeze bunt from Grant Smith drove in McCarthy, who was originally called out but ruled safe following a successful Kentucky Challenge. Pitredrove in another run with an RBI double and a sac fly from Burkes brought the game to a 6-0 score after four.
Arkansas, who was hitless through the first four innings, responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, but Moore executed a strikeout pitch on his final toss of the afternoon to limit the damage. In the seventh, the Hogs cut the Kentucky leadto three, at 6-3, but O’Brien entered from the bullpen and picked up an out with his first pitch to limit the damage.
In the bottom of that frame, Kentucky would get the run back, as Ryan Nicholson singled up the middle, allowing Lopez to score on an Arkansas error.
The Razorbacks led off the ninth with a solo home run, but Hummel was able to get the final three outs to pick up the save and clinch the series for the Wildcats.
One Response
Kentucky seems to be a real threat this year. Go Cats!