RECAP: Kentucky tops South Carolina 10-5 to claim series
Kentucky's Luke Heyer (center) celebrated his 13th home run of the season with Troy Squires (16) and Trey Dawson (2).
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky opened Sunday's game against South Carolina with home runs from Tristan Pompey and Troy Squires and went back to back once again in the sixth inning with Luke Heyer and Luke Becker en route to a 10-5 series-clinching win over the Gamecocks.
No. 9 Kentucky (22-10, 5-7 SEC) took two of three games during the weekend series at Cliff Hagan Stadium. It marked the third consecutive series win for the Cats over East rival South Carolina (18-14, 5-7 SEC).
The Cats collected 13 hits on the afternoon, including three by Pompey, a junior leftfielder and preseason All-American. Eight of UK's starters recorded at least one hit.
Heyer, a senior outfielder in the early discussion for SEC Player of the Year, clubbed his 13th home run of the season and drove in three runs. Becker, a senior second baseman, celebrated his birthday with his fourth home run and reached base five times in the game.
It was more than enough run support for the UK pitching staff. Junior right-hander Justin Lewis (6-2) started the game and allowed only two earned runs over 5.1 innings. Jimmy Ramsey, Carson Coleman and Chris Machamer closed it out with solid relief work.
Machamer picked up his fourth save of the season by working the final 2.1 innings in perfect fashion.
With two errors on the day, it wasn't a flawless performance by the Cats, but shortstop Trey Dawson may have made the biggest play in the game when he dove to take away a hit from South Carolina's Chris Cullen with two outs and runners at second and third in the sixth inning.
That play held the lead at 5-3 and allowed UK to explode for four runs in the bottom of the inning to put the Cats in total control.
South Carolina starter Ridge Chapman (1-4) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks during three innings on the mound.
The Gamecocks managed only five hits on the day, one a solo home run by leftfielder Carlos Cortes.
Kentucky returns to action Wednesday at Western Carolina in a 5 p.m. ET matchup leading up to the Cats' three-game weekend series at Georgia.
Kentucky's Luke Heyer (center) celebrated his 13th home run of the season with Troy Squires (16) and Trey Dawson (2).
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky opened Sunday's game against South Carolina with home runs from Tristan Pompey and Troy Squires and went back to back once again in the sixth inning with Luke Heyer and Luke Becker en route to a 10-5 series-clinching win over the Gamecocks.
No. 9 Kentucky (22-10, 5-7 SEC) took two of three games during the weekend series at Cliff Hagan Stadium. It marked the third consecutive series win for the Cats over East rival South Carolina (18-14, 5-7 SEC).
The Cats collected 13 hits on the afternoon, including three by Pompey, a junior leftfielder and preseason All-American. Eight of UK's starters recorded at least one hit.
Heyer, a senior outfielder in the early discussion for SEC Player of the Year, clubbed his 13th home run of the season and drove in three runs. Becker, a senior second baseman, celebrated his birthday with his fourth home run and reached base five times in the game.
It was more than enough run support for the UK pitching staff. Junior right-hander Justin Lewis (6-2) started the game and allowed only two earned runs over 5.1 innings. Jimmy Ramsey, Carson Coleman and Chris Machamer closed it out with solid relief work.
Machamer picked up his fourth save of the season by working the final 2.1 innings in perfect fashion.
With two errors on the day, it wasn't a flawless performance by the Cats, but shortstop Trey Dawson may have made the biggest play in the game when he dove to take away a hit from South Carolina's Chris Cullen with two outs and runners at second and third in the sixth inning.
That play held the lead at 5-3 and allowed UK to explode for four runs in the bottom of the inning to put the Cats in total control.
South Carolina starter Ridge Chapman (1-4) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks during three innings on the mound.
The Gamecocks managed only five hits on the day, one a solo home run by leftfielder Carlos Cortes.
Kentucky returns to action Wednesday at Western Carolina in a 5 p.m. ET matchup leading up to the Cats' three-game weekend series at Georgia.