LEXINGTON, Ky. — Logan Salow had been so good for so long for Kentucky this season. But on Sunday when the Wildcats turned to their star closer to slam the door against Georgia, Salow's day turned into a nightmare.
Mitchell Webb's go-ahead grand slam with one out in the top of the eighth inning gave the Bulldogs a 6-2 lead, and ultimately provided all the cushion last-place Georgia needed as it surprisingly took the series win over UK on Sunday.
Salow, who had allowed two earned runs all season, took over the eighth inning with the Wildcats leading 2-1. Second baseman Riley Mahan's 10th home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh gave UK its first lead, meaning the Wildcats were relying on Salow for a six out save.
Salow replaced UK starter Justin Lewis. Lewis, a Georgia native, threw seven innings of one run baseball and was in line for the win when he exited the game. His day turned from a potential win to a no-decision just three batters after he left. Michael Curry, who finished the day 3-3 for Georgia, doubled to score Tucker Bradley and tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the eighth.
A walk and an infield single loaded the bases for Webb. On a 2-2 pitch, Webb delivered the game-deciding blow with a home run onto "The Cliff" in right centerfield.
It was the second loss of the weekend for Salow, though all four runs he allowed in the ninth inning on Friday were unearned.
UK rallied in the ninth inning, scoring one run and bringing the tying run to the plate. T.J. Collett pinch-hit for Marcus Carson, but he grounded into a double play on the first pitch of the at-bat to end the game.
NOTES
-The no-decision was a tough end for a good day from Justin Lewis. Lewis worked out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning when he got Keegan McGovern to hit into a 6-4-3 double play.
He retired the side in both the fourth and fifth innings, then worked out of a one out single in the sixth. Lewis struck out the side in the seventh to end his day. His final line read: 7 innings pitched, five hits, one earned run, two walks, seven strikeouts on 100 pitches.
-Evan White finished 3-4 on the day, leading UK in hitting. Troy Squires was the only other Wildcat to finish with two hits, but UK did collect 11 hits as a team.
