UK baseball: Cats still alive after 8-6 win over NC State
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Wildcats are still alive. Needing two wins on Sunday to force a seventh and final game in the Lexington Regional, UK did just that by defeating NC State 8-6 to force a winner-take-all game on Monday night.
Here are the main storylines from the game.
- Big sixth inning. UK took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the 6th inning. After two quick outs to start the inning, centerfielder Tristan Pompey doubled down the left field line. A walk by Evan White brought up Zach Reks, who singled up the middle to make it 5-3. Kole Cottam walked to load the bases, then Riley Mahan earned his 11th RBI of the regional by drawing a walk to make it 6-3.
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Luke Becker hit a high chopper in the infield that resulted in an infield single and made it 7-3. A wild pitch gave UK its fourth and final run of the inning, making it 8-3.
-Machamer solid in relief. UK starter Brad Schaenzer provided four innings before turning the ball over to freshman righthander Chris Machamer. Machamer, who was given the win, struck out four batters in 2.1 innings. His line was hurt by Joe Dunand’s three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning.
Dunand’s homer ended Machamer’s night. UK pitching coach Jimmy Belanger went to closer Logan Salow needing eight outs. Salow retired all eight batters he faced.
-Pompey, Reks set pace offensively. Pompey and Reks both collected three hits on the night. Reks drove in two runs out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup. Marcus Carson and Connor Heady, the last two hitters in the order, provided more damage. After combining for four hits earlier in the day against Indiana, Carson homered in the 4th inning to tie the game at 4-4. Heady doubled and scored a run.