Kentucky Goes 2-for-19 With Runners On in Series-Opening 6-4 Loss at Vanderbilt

The Bat Cats had their opportunities but failed to cash in, leading to a frustrating loss to open the weekend series in Nashville.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Having succumbed to powerful left-handed pitching all season long, Kentucky's offense gave Vanderbilt a surprise on Friday night, as the 15th-ranked Wildcats knocked out the fifth-ranked Commodores top starter Carter Holton out in the fourth inning.

Having just taken a 3-2 lead, UK had just worked its fourth walk of the game and its eight free pass, as Holton had also hit four Wildcat batters in the early goings of game one of three between the two SEC East foes. 

Vandy turned to junior right-hander Patrick Reilly out of the bullpen, who struck out Devin Burkes to end the top of the fourth, leaving the bases loaded in a crucial spot. Those baserunners were three of 13 left on by Kentucky, which also went 2-for-19 at the plate in a frustrating 6-4 loss at Hawkins Field. 

Veteran right fielder RJ Schreck obliterated a Darren Williams pitch in the bottom of the fifth for a two-run homer to put the Dores (30-11, 14-5 SEC) on top 5-3, a crushing blow that put the Wildcats (30-11, 11-8 SEC) behind for good. 

"We had our chances, we went up 2-0, we get their leadoff guy out, then went HBP-walk-walk and they're right back in the game," UK head coach Nick Mingione said. "We did a great job against their starter."

Both teams left two runners on base in the second inning, as each starter came up with big pitches to work out of jams. Holton went upstairs with a 96-mph fastball to fan Nolan McCarthy, while Williams induced a popout, then struck out Matthew Polk with a wicked off-speed pitch to leave a pair in scoring position. Each pitcher showed some emotion as they left the bump unscathed. 

That changed in the top of the third, as Kentucky forced Holton to throw 43 pitches in a laboring half-inning that saw the Wildcats work seven at-bats of at least five pitches, eventually leading to two runs. 

After Jackson Gray drew a walk — reaching base in his 10th consecutive plate appearance — and Ryan Waldschmidt was hit by a pitch with two outs, Holton walked Émilien Pitre to load the bases. Up stepped Devin Burkes, who worked an eight-pitch AB that ended with a bloop-single into shallow center field, scoring a pair to put UK ahead 2-0. The bases were then re-loaded for Reuben Church, but the designated hitter flew out to left to retire the side. 

It didn't take long for the Commodores to respond, as Williams hit two batters and walked another to load the bags with one out. Catcher Jack Bulger then rolled a two-run single through the right side of the infield to tie things in a flash. Williams limited the damage with a strikeout and groundout to keep things even. 

The laboring continued for Holton, who failed to work ahead in counts, leading to long AB after long AB. A bunt single from Nolan McCarthy, sac-bunt from Grant Smith, HBP and walk loaded the bags once again. Waldschmidt ripped a sacrifice fly to deep center, putting the Cats back ahead, 3-2. Another two-out walk ended Holton's day at 101 pitches. The 3.2 innings completed are his second least in a start this season. 

In came Reilly, who proceeded to also engage in an eight-pitch battle with Burkes. Unlike Holton, Reilly won the battle, serving some high cheddar to get the UK catcher swinging, leaving the bases loaded for the second inning in a row. 

Those Cats left on the pond came back to bite, as Vandy plated the three in the fifth. Enrique Bradfield — Vandy's star leadoff-hitter and center fielder — walked, stole second and was then brought home on a laced single up the middle from 3B Davis Diaz. One batter later, Schreck put a hurting on Williams' final pitch of the night, sending it halfway up the right-field bleachers for a two-run bomb, giving VU a lead it wouldn't relinquish. 

Schreck was walked with the bases loaded in the sixth to increase the lead to 6-3, though that was the only run allowed by Kentucky's bullpen in four innings of relief. It was Reilly that was the best arm out of either pen on Friday, though. 

"Always good to get some guys out there, especially guys that are gonna throw again this weekend," Mingione said. "Our bullpen gave us a chance. They gave us a chance. We had our runners, had our opportunities. Unfortunately, we didn't cash in."

The junior right-hander made up for Holton's lackluster outing, hurling 4.1 innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run, striking out 10 of the 19 batters he faced while walking four. It was his second longest outing of the season. 

"I give Reilly a lot of credit. He carried and did a great job," Mingione said.

Church collected an RBI single in the seventh to pull Kentucky within two, but Gray struck out with two on to end the frame in what was the Cats' final real chance of the night. Vandy's lights-out closer Nick Maldonado came in for the top of the ninth and struck out the side in 11 pitches — the only one-two-three inning of the game for UK.

Game two between the Wildcats and Commodores is set for Saturday, April 29. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. EST.  

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