Chase Stanke's Birthday Bash Helps Kentucky Even Series Against No. 1 LSU in 13-10 Thriller
BATON ROUGE, La. — Tommy White unloaded on a Darren Williams off-speed pitch for a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth, putting No. 1 LSU up 6-2 on Kentucky.
Just 24 hours after losing by 10 runs in eight innings, the No. 12 Bat Cats looked to be on the fast-track to another smushing at Alex Box Stadium. With their backs firmly against the wall, head coach Nick Mingione's team tapped into a little birthday magic, worked through some palpitating pitching and eventually won a 13-10 slobberknocker, snapping a three-game losing streak and setting up a rubber match with the top team in the nation.
Kentucky (28-6, 10-4 SEC) plated five runs in the fifth and seventh innings to stun the 11,000-plus fans in attendance, earning a lead that was as big as 12-6. LSU (28-6, 8-5) clawed back late and had the tying run on second base in the eighth inning, but the Cats bobbed and weaved back to the dugout, scored one more run in the ninth and finished things off for the biggest win of the season.
Designated hitter Chase Stanke went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs on his 23rd birthday — a day he'll never forget:
"That's probably the best birthday I've ever had right there," he told Wildcats Today postgame.
Stanke, second baseman Émilien Pitre and center fielder Jackson Gray each had a trio of hits on Friday night. Pitre is now 7-for-9 in the series with five RBI. Seven different Wildcats drove in runs in the victory.
On the mound, a pair of right-handed relievers in Mason Moore and Ryder Giles bailed UK out on multiple occasions, while the defense turned four double plays, three of which ended innings, including the final play of the game that saw Pitre, shortstop Grant Smith and first baseman Hunter Gilliam connect for two outs for the third time.
The emotional win was a team one that captured the essence of what has made Kentucky so successful in 2023, especially in the eyes of Mingione:
"I just love the fight and the competitiveness of our team," he said. I just keep saying it, their desire to win that dominates is really amazing. And it is the whole team. The guys in the dugout, the energy, the fight, it is unbelievable."
LSU got to Kentucky starter Logan Martin in the first inning thanks to an RBI double from White, scoring star center fielder Dylan Crews from first base. A walk then had two on with one out for the Tigers, setting the table for another treacherous start on the mound for the Wildcats.
Martin settled down and limited the damage to one. His reward was walking back out to the mound for the top of the second with a lead, as Stanke blasted a 2-0 fastball into the right-field bleachers for a two-run home run, his first of the season.
The Tigers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half, knocking Martin out of the game. In came Williams to try and give UK some length, but the LSU lineup continued to send one dangerous hitter to the plate after another.
White's 12th home run of the season capped off a three-run fourth inning, putting Kentucky in yet another hole. Luckily for the Cats, they got some help crawling out of it the next time they stepped to the plate.
Catcher Devin Burkes entered the game hitting only .211 in SEC play, but he ripped an RBI single to left field for the first of five runs in the inning. That hit ended the day for LSU starter Ty Floyd, who made way for LHP Griffin Herring. The next batter was Jase Felker, who rocketed a grounder to third that was muffed by White for an error, loading the bases.
It was Nolan McCarthy who delivered the big blow, as he skied a fly ball into deep right field that eventually fell fair thanks to a major miscue by the LSU RF Brayden Jobert. He hit the deck as McCarthy raced to third, clearing the bases for what was scored a three-run triple, tying the game 6-6. Stanke was next up, slapping a single up the middle to give UK a lead it wouldn't relinquish.
"Just trying to go up there and get a good pitch to hit and try to put a good swing on it," Stanke said of his approach. "Our coaches did a good job preparing us for what we saw today, and just trying to stay within myself."
Moore then entered the game for Williams in the middle of the fifth and induced his first of two double plays, denying the Tigers momentum that they had all night in their game-one win.
"His ability to just land three pitches for a strike has been crucial," Mingione said of Moore. "Teams just hit his fastball into the ground. So at any point in time, if there's a guy on, he is one swing away from a double play, and I just I love how poised he was. I love how competitive — he was stone cold in this environment."
Chaos ensued in the seventh, as two hit batters, RBI singles from Stanke and Pitre, a walked-in run and pair of sacrifice flys from Gilliam and Smith swung the door wide open, giving Kentucky a massive six-run lead. Moore allowed one run back in the bottom half, but a 12-7 lead felt back-breaking, even for the No. 1 Tigers.
That was far from the case, as Moore exited for midseason All-American Ryan Hagenow — who lacked control, hitting the first batter he faced, then allowing a single to Crews. After firing three balls to White with the bases loaded, Mingione pulled the plug and immediately took his star righty out, inserting the sidewinding Giles in, in what was the biggest spot of the game.
Having not pitched in many high-leverage spots this season, Giles was an unexpected choice, but was one that paid off. He walked White and allowed a two-run single to 1B Jared Jones, but struck out two to end the inning, preserving a 12-10 lead.
Needing some insurance, Gray singled to open the top of the ninth and was then driven in by Pitre's third base hit, plating the final run of the near four-hour marathon. Giles got Tre' Morgan to roll into the final double play of the night to cap off the extravaganza.
"Not surprised with the outcome. Obviously we trusted him, we put him out there," Mingione said of Giles. "But what a performance, like real toughness, competitiveness, it was pretty amazing."
The win evens the series, setting up a crucial game three. The last time Kentucky won a road series against the No. 1 team in the country was at Alex Box Stadium in 2015, a feat it'll look to repeat on Saturday afternoon.
"We're gonna go back to the hotel, try to get some sleep and show up here ready to play tomorrow," Stanke said.
First pitch is currently scheduled for 2 p.m. EST, though rain is in the forecast. The game will be televised on SEC Network+.
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