By UK Athletics

Kentucky Knocks Off No. 14 Oklahoma (W/ Photos)

Posted: May 10, 2025
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Vicky Graff Photo

With its backs against the wall and coming off a challenging weekend, Kentucky showed the type of fight it will need the rest of the season in knocking off No. 14 Oklahoma, 4-3, at Kentucky Proud Park.

Jackson Nove delivered 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, Cole Hage homered and the Wildcats (26-20, 11-14 Southeastern Conference) received critical contributions up and down the lineup on both sides of the baseball to pin a defeat on one of college baseball’s top starting pitchers.

After a two-run home run in the top of the third inning by the Sooners gave them a 2-0 lead, UK responded with a four spot that saw the Cats’ first four batters of the inning hit for the team cycle. Tyler Bell tripled off the yellow line at the top of the fence, Luke Lawrence doubled him home, Cole Hage lifted a two-run shot to right-centerfield and Carson Hansen added a single. James McCoy capped the outburst against Kyson Witherspoon with a opposite field RBI single.

Freshman Nate Harris battled through 4.2 innings on the mound before giving way to Nove, who allowed an inherited runner to score before delivering 10 crucial outs. Simon Gregersen entered in the ninth and walked two to put the potential tying run in scoring position with one out before fanning Carmichael and the Sooners’ cleanup hitter to close the game.

NOTES

Kentucky is 26-20 (11-14 SEC) on the season.
This was the first meeting ever between the two schools.
UK has held a lead in 22 of 25 SEC games.
UK now is 8-10 vs. ranked teams and owns nine Quad 1 victories.
UK’s first four batters in the third inning hit for the team cycle.
UK has hit six triples in its last four games.
UK was hit by one pitch on the day and now have been hit 129 times in 2025.
It entered the weekend ranked third nationally.
UK is three from the school single-season record of 132 (2023).
The last three seasons now are the top three in school history and have totaled 378.
UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 288-186 career record.
Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
UK is 49-50 in the month of May under Coach Mingione.
Mingione now is 1-0 vs. Oklahoma.
INF Tyler Bell now has reached base safely in 45 of 46 career games.
He owns a career-long 11 game hit streak that was extended with a third inning triple off the top of the fence.
He has reached in 18 consecutive games.
IF Luke Lawrence went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI double.
UTL James McCoy went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
OF Cole Hage hit his 11th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the third inning.
RHP Nate Harris pitched 4.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits.
LHP Jackson Nove earned the win.
He tossed 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing two runs and striking out five.
RHP Simon Gregersen earned his second save with a scoreless ninth. He struck out the final two batters of the game with the tying run at second base.