LEXINGTON, Ky. — Second-ranked Kentucky scored three runs in the sixth inning and then hung on to knock off top-ranked LSU
7-6 Sunday, taking over first place in the SEC in the process.
Kentucky improved to 35-6 overall and 13-5 in the SEC with the win. The Wildcats won the last two games of the weekend series
after dropping the opener.
LSU is 32-9 overall and one game behind the Wildcats in the overall SEC standings with a 12-5 league mark.
LSU returns to action at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when the Tigers play host to Southeastern Louisiana in Alex Box Stadium.
“I thought our players gave a great
effort today and nearly did enough to win this series,” said LSU coach
Paul Mainieri.
“It was a real back-and-forth game, and we battled on every pitch.
We fell just short, but I felt our players competed at
a high level in a tough environment against a very good team. We
can move forward and continue to play with a lot of confidence
as he head down the stretch of the regular season.”
Kentucky relieve Tim Peterson (3-0) was credited with the victory as he entered the game in the sixth inning and worked 11/3
innings of scorless ball.
Alex Phillips earned his fourth save of the year, limiting LSU to two hits over the final two innings and allowing an unearned
run.
LSU reliever Joey Bourgeois (1-2) was charged with the loss as he relieved starter Aaron Nola to begin the sixth inning and
surrendered two runs on two hits while getting just one out..
LSU’s Raph Rhymes increased his cumulative batting average to .500 (70-for-140) as he was 4-for-4 on Sunday with a double,
a homer and three RBI.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a solo homer by Rhymes, his second homer of the season.
The Wildcats struck for three runs in
the third as center fielder Austin Cousino singled and moved to third on
a double by
third baseman Thomas McCarthy. Both runners scored on first
baseman A.J. Reed’s double, and Reed scored on a single by catcher
Luke Maile.
LSU tied the game 3-3 in the fourth as Rhymes delivered an RBI single and first baseman Mason Katz, who had singled earlier
in the inning, scored from third when shortstop Austin Nola grounded into a double play.
Kentucky regained the lead in the fourth when Zac Zellers led off the fourth inning with a home run, his fifth of the season.
LSU struck for two runs in the sixth to gain a 5-4 advantage. Rhymes ripped an run-scoring double and designated hitter Jordy
Snikeris produced an RBI single in the inning.
Kentucky, however, responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth against LSU relievers Joey Bourgeois and Chris Cotton.
The Wildcats lined four doubles in the inning, including run-scoring hits by second baseman J.T. Riddle, by shortstop Matt
Reida and by Cousino.
LSU narrowed the deficit to 7-6 in the eighth when McCarthy misplayed an Austin Nola grounder and allowed a run to score,
but Phillips ended the threat by inducing a double-play grounder off of Snikeris’ bat.
Phillips retired the Tigers in order in the ninth to preserve the UK win.
Aaron Nola pitched the first five
innings for the Tigers, allowing four runs on seven hits with no walks
and seven strikeouts.
UK starter Corey Littrell was charged with five runs on eight hits
in 5.2 innings, and he recorded two walks and four strikeouts.