No. 17 Kentucky Uses Six-Run Sixth to Power Past Tennessee Tech 9-2 in Final Midweek Game

The Bat Cats notched 13 hits on Tuesday night against the Golden Eagles.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Midweek games are usually like a box of chocolates. 

Normally, you never know what you're gonna get, but even Forrest Gump wasn't prepared for Kentucky baseball to go 10-1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in 2023.

Tennessee Tech did what it could to try and spoil UK's final midweek game of the season on Tuesday night at Kentucky Proud Park, but a go-ahead home run from Hunter Gilliam and six-run inning in the bottom of the sixth made for a comfy 9-2 victory for the Wildcats over the Golden Eagles. 

No. 17 UK collected 13 hits as seven pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts. Danville, Ky. native Christian Howe earned his first career win, throwing two scoreless innings, retiring all six batters he faced. 

"It feels good to just get out there and do what we've been doing all year," Howe said. "We've been staying ready, everybody's ready for their chance. That's all it is — taking advantage of it." 

Center fielder Jackson Gray was one of three Cats to record two hits, continuing his dominant stretch that has seen his batting average rise near .370 in early May. He smoked a two-run triple down the right-field line in the big sixth innings, his sixth three-bagger of the year. 

"I love a triple. Nothing beats a homer, but triples have been easier to come by this year," Gray said. "I play the game at one speed, I'm always trying to find the extra base. That's just how I've always played, so yeah, I like to leg out a triple." 

The result wasn't always set in stone, as Tennessee Tech ran out to an early lead. 

Kentucky (34-13, 14-10 SEC) handed the ball to Colby Frieda to open the game on Tuesday night and the sophomore right-hander set a true midweek tone, walking three batters and surrendering a double to give Tech a 1-0 lead in the first frame. 

That lead doubled in the top of the third, as first baseman John Dyer continued a monstrous tear at the plate. He smashed an 0-1 pitch from Seth Logue over the wall in left-center field for his 19th big fly of the season and his 11th in Tennessee Tech's last 12 games. It also extended his hitting streak to 17 games while putting the Cats in a 2-0 hole. 

Tech (17-28) starter Reece McDuffie held his own the first time through the UK batting order, but things began to unravel in the third. After hitting Grant Smith with one out, Gray and Jase Felker each poked singles, the latter of which drove in Smith to cut the deficit in half. McDuffie was then pulled after a walk in favor of RHP Andrew Guardino, who allowed an RBI base hit off the bat of Émilien Pitre that tied the game. 

Kentucky had a chance to break things open in the fourth, as a single from Devin Burkes and a pair of walks loaded the bags with no outs. Guardino did his best Houdini impersonation, however and escaped the jam with no damage allowed, getting a weak popout, strikeout and groundout to keep the score tied. 

The deadlock was broken in the bottom of the fifth on the first pitch thrown by Tech lefty Daniel Walter (0-1). Gilliam golfed a screamer towards the scoreboard in right-center that continued to carry until it snuck over the wall for a solo home run, putting UK ahead 3-2. The Longwood transfer's four-bagger was simply an appetizer for what was to come the next time the Cats came up to the plate in the sixth. 

Following a walk and a bunt single from Grant Smith, Gray crushed his huge triple down the line to plate both baserunners, setting the stage for the frame that put things out of reach for good. 

"I feel like I'm seeing the ball pretty well right now. I've worked some two-strike counts, able to turn some 1-2 counts into walks and stuff like that," Gray said. "That's how I know I'm at my A-game — is when I'm doing that, seeing the ball."

Felker singled home Gray, designated hitter Chase Stanke belted a two-run double to the wall in center and Burkes threw a single into left to score Stanke, running the score up to 9-2, where it would remain for the rest of the night. 

Meanwhile, Howe (1-0) was wheeling and dealing, striking out four of the six batters he faced in the fifth and sixth. It was only his fourth appearance of the season, but it was easily his best.

"It's a lot of fun. I mean, we know that we could put anybody out there pretty much at any point in time. We're confident in everybody," Howe said. 

Along with Howe, Magdiel Cotto, Ryan Hagenow, Zach Hise and even outfielder James McCoy owned scoreless appearances against the Golden Eagles. Between both teams, 14 arms saw the mound in a game that just eclipsed the three-hour mark. 

Up next for the Wildcats is the final road trip of the regular season. The No. 23 Tennessee Volunteers will welcome UK to Lindsey Nelson Stadium for yet another crucial three-game set. First pitch in game one on Friday, May 12 is set for 6:30 p.m. EST and will air on SEC Network+. 

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Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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