Kentucky Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader Over Indiana State

Due to inclement weather on Friday, Kentucky baseball's series-opener against Indiana State was pushed back to Saturday, setting up the first doubleheader of the season for the Bat Cats.

The result? A pair of tight-knit victories for UK, featuring some dominant pitching performances.

Game one ended in 4-2 in favor of the Wildcats (8-2) after seventh-year reliever Darren Williams once again proved why he's one of the best arms in the Southeastern Conference.

After starter Logan Martin went four innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, three walks and four strikeouts, Williams slammed the door shut, hurling five innings of one-hit ball, stymying the Sycamore batters.

Kentucky did all of its damage in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs thanks to four hits. Second baseman Émilien Pitre and first baseman Hunter Gilliam kicked things off with a pair of singles, before Jase Felker laid down a sacrifice bunt to put both in scoring position.

Ryan Waldschmidt then drove a single through the left side, scoring one. Two batters later, Reuben Church — fresh off a win over Morehead State that saw him reach base six times — walked on four pitches, bringing home another run. Shortstop Grant Smith then found the biggest hit of his early UK career, singling home the final two Wildcat runs of the game.

UK had just three hits the rest of the game, but with Williams on the bump, it could've won with zero. Through 11 innings of work in three appearances, Williams has allowed just the one hit.

Game two then witnessed a 5-4 win for the Bat Cats, spearheaded by a huge game from center fielder Jackson Gray. The Western Kentucky transfer became the first UK player to have two triples in a game since Matt McKinney did so against LSU in 2007.

Gray reached base five times, drawing three walks to go with the pair of three-baggers.

Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats again erupted for four runs in a frame, began by one of Gray's triples. Right fielder James McCoy laid down a squeeze bunt, bringing Gray home, giving UK a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Gilliam then broke it open with a two-run single with the bases juiced, before Felker bunted home another run.

The run support piggybacked a rebound outing for left-hander Tyler Bosma, who threw five innings of one-run baseball after getting rocked by Wright State for seven earned in his last outing. Bosma allowed just four hits and struck out seven on Saturday.

Things got testy in the top of the eighth, as reliever Austin Strickland made a crucial error, leaving an 0-2 pitch over the plate, leading to a three-run home run for Indiana State third baseman Mike Sears.

Sophomore righty Mason Moore would come to the rescue, filling in for Strickland in the eighth, promptly throwing two innings without allowing a hit, earning the save and the second win of the day for the Wildcats.

The final game of the series will take place at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington. The game will air on SEC Network+.

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