RECAP: Texas Tech avoids sweep, salvages Game 3 against Cats
Kentucky's Ben Aklinski slides into second base as Texas Tech shortstop Michael Davis awaits the throw in Sunday's series finale at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Texas Tech got perhaps its best pitching performance of the weekend from the arms it may have least expected to deliver it.
After being pummeled by Kentucky for 21 runs in the first two games of the high-profile series, the Red Raiders held the potent Wildcats lineup to only five hits and avoided a sweep with a 5-3 victory on Sunday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
No. 3 Texas Tech (15-2) had Ryan Sublette, Caleb Kilian, Ryan Dusek and Jose Quezada combine on the committee-style gem. They struck out 11 and worked around five walks by holding UK to 2-for-11 with runners on base.
Kilian (1-0) earned the win with 3.1 innings of relief work. He allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out five.
"Against a pitching staff like that, it's hard to score double-digit runs every time," UK head coach Nick Mingione said. "That's a really good pitching staff... To their credit, they made some really good pitches. We chased some balls down out of the zone, but for the most part, our at-bats just weren't good enough today. You tip your cap."
Kentucky (14-3) had Justin Lewis on the mound looking to nail down the sweep, but the junior right-hander struggled with his command and what appeared to be an inconsistent strike zone at times. He allowed five runs on six hits and three walks.
Lewis (3-1) also struck out 10 but was haunted by two pitches in particular, a three-run home run by John McMilon in the second inning and a two-run shot by Gabe Holt in the fourth.
"The difference in the game was two pitches," Mingione said. "Two pitches, five runs. We couldn't keep the ball in the ballpark."
"That's just baseball," Lewis said. "You can't rewind it."
His outing was still solid enough to give UK a chance, but the Cats didn't get their typical offensive output. Troy Squires provided a two-run double to highlight UK's afternoon at the plate.
The Cats saw their streak of home runs in 16 consecutive games snapped.
While pleased with the series win, the Cats were disappointed they could not finish the job on Sunday.
"When you get an opportunity to beat an elite team three times in a row, especially at home, you've got to do it," Mingione said.
Kentucky returns to action Tuesday in a 4 p.m. ET game against Murray State in Lexington before embarking on its first SEC series of the season March 16-18 at Arkansas.
Kentucky's Ben Aklinski slides into second base as Texas Tech shortstop Michael Davis awaits the throw in Sunday's series finale at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Texas Tech got perhaps its best pitching performance of the weekend from the arms it may have least expected to deliver it.
After being pummeled by Kentucky for 21 runs in the first two games of the high-profile series, the Red Raiders held the potent Wildcats lineup to only five hits and avoided a sweep with a 5-3 victory on Sunday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
No. 3 Texas Tech (15-2) had Ryan Sublette, Caleb Kilian, Ryan Dusek and Jose Quezada combine on the committee-style gem. They struck out 11 and worked around five walks by holding UK to 2-for-11 with runners on base.
Kilian (1-0) earned the win with 3.1 innings of relief work. He allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out five.
"Against a pitching staff like that, it's hard to score double-digit runs every time," UK head coach Nick Mingione said. "That's a really good pitching staff... To their credit, they made some really good pitches. We chased some balls down out of the zone, but for the most part, our at-bats just weren't good enough today. You tip your cap."
Kentucky (14-3) had Justin Lewis on the mound looking to nail down the sweep, but the junior right-hander struggled with his command and what appeared to be an inconsistent strike zone at times. He allowed five runs on six hits and three walks.
Lewis (3-1) also struck out 10 but was haunted by two pitches in particular, a three-run home run by John McMilon in the second inning and a two-run shot by Gabe Holt in the fourth.
"The difference in the game was two pitches," Mingione said. "Two pitches, five runs. We couldn't keep the ball in the ballpark."
"That's just baseball," Lewis said. "You can't rewind it."
His outing was still solid enough to give UK a chance, but the Cats didn't get their typical offensive output. Troy Squires provided a two-run double to highlight UK's afternoon at the plate.
The Cats saw their streak of home runs in 16 consecutive games snapped.
While pleased with the series win, the Cats were disappointed they could not finish the job on Sunday.
"When you get an opportunity to beat an elite team three times in a row, especially at home, you've got to do it," Mingione said.
Kentucky returns to action Tuesday in a 4 p.m. ET game against Murray State in Lexington before embarking on its first SEC series of the season March 16-18 at Arkansas.
