LEXINGTON, Ky. — No. 24 Tennessee dropped the series-opener on the road against Kentucky by a score of 9-2 on Friday evening at Kentucky Proud Park.
A cold night offensively doomed the Vols in game one of the series, only able to manage seven hits against the Wildcats’ staff, with its lone runs in the game coming on a late inning home run.
After a quiet top of the first for Tennessee, Tegan Kuhns worked out of early trouble in the first with runners in scoring position and no one out. The sophomore righty struck out consecutive batters and then induced a groundout to keep the Wildcat offense off the board.
Following a scoreless first two frames, Kentucky would get on the board first. A two-run home run from Ethan Hindle would give the hosts an early 2-0 lead.
The Vols (30-16, 10-12 SEC) would threaten in the top of the fourth, with Manny Marin leading off with a single up the middle and reaching scoring position with one out. A Garrett Wright groundball found the glove of the Kentucky third baseman, who tagged Marin as he tried to advance. Henry Ford would follow with a hard hit single to give the Big Orange offense a chance to bring home a run in the inning, but a pop up ended the scoring opportunity.
Kentucky (27-15, 10-12 SEC) would add to its lead with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, the first coming home on a sacrifice bunt. After a hit batter, right fielder Braxton Van Cleave would send a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right for a three-run homer.
Kuhns finished his outing by going six innings and striking out seven, but was unable to limit hard contact as Kentucky tagged him for six runs and 10 hits.
The Wildcats would push across three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, coming on a wild pitch and a two-run single.
Tennessee would end the shutout in the top of the eighth on a two-run home run from Ford, his 15th of the season. Ford was tied for the team lead with two hits, joined by Levi Clark who had two of his own. Marin would reach base twice in the game as well, picking up a single while also drawing a walk.
UP NEXT: The Vols will look to even the series on Saturday in game two of the weekend tilt against the Wildcats. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN App.
