Travis Smith Shoves, Kentucky Finds Crucial Series-Opening Win Over No. 3 South Carolina

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Travis Smith didn't know he was pitching the biggest game of his young Kentucky career until just three days prior.

Upon finding out that he would take the ball for Friday night's crucial series-opener at Kentucky Proud Park against No. 3 South Carolina, Smith admitted that he had a few extra nerves, but he also knew what he was capable of. He just saw it a week ago when he held a solid Louisville team to one run across five innings, striking out eight.

With momentum in-hand, the Walton, Ky. native delivered in a big way, hurling six innings of four-hit, one-run ball that saw five strikeouts and three walks against a potent Gamecock lineup. Kentucky accompanied the outing with 10 hits and some small ball execution, defeating SC 7-3 for a vital victory.

"A lot of confidence coming out of that Louisville game," Smith said. "Just going back out there and doing it again. I wasn't trying to strike anybody out, to be honest, I just let them hit it."

"So happy for him," head coach Nick Mingione added. "You can see this, and I know you sensed it, our guys love that guy and rally behind him. They were so excited for him, they were happy he got the start."

Four Wildcats had two hits, headlined by James McCoy and Hunter Gilliam, both of whom hit home runs, though they were polar opposites of one-another. Mason Moore earned an eight-out save, entering in a crucial spot, denying one final rally from the SC bats.

"I'm just trying to go in and help the team no matter what," McCoy said. "You know, sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't. Happy it went my way, but we had guys throughout the whole lineup doing everything right."

The first hurdle came in the top of the first for Smith, as he issued a pair of two-out walks, both of which featured multiple pitches that could've easily been called strikes. Instead of unraveling under the bright lights, he got ahead of left fielder Caleb Denny 0-2 and got a weak fly out to retire the side.

His reward for staying stable early was trotting back out to the mound in the second with a 1-0 lead. Leadoff man Jackson Gray stayed hot and singled to open the bottom half before SC starter Will Sanders walked Jase Felker. Gilliam bounced into a double play, but two batters later a wild pitch squirted past the catcher Jonathan French, allowing Gray to dash home for the first run of the game.

That lead doubled in the second thanks to a sun-aided four-bagger for James McCoy, who made just his seventh start in SEC play on Friday. With two outs, he lofted a high fly ball to straightaway center, but the CF Dylan Brewer lost the ball as it hung in the sun. McCoy was halfway to third base by the time the ball was corralled, but the relay throw wasn't wrangled and the 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman chugged all the way home for UK's first inside-the-park home run since Riley Mahan did so at LSU in 2015.

"I get around second and I just see Coach Mingione point to home. I tried to get into third gear, but I don't know if i've got a third gear," McCoy joked. "Luckily, I got in safely."

"You see how special he is. Super talented," Mingione said of McCoy. "He had a great week of practice."

Kentucky had a chance to keep applying pressure in the third, as a sacrifice bunt had a pair of runners in scoring position with one out. Sanders settled in, however, striking out Ryan Waldschmidt and Chase Stanke to keep the lead at 2-0.

That missed opportunity immediately came back to bite the Cats, as SC 1B Gavin Casas belted a 1-0 pitch from Smith over the wall in right-center for his 17th big fly of the season, cutting the UK lead in half. Sanders then trotted back out to the mound and struck out the side, trying to turn the tides in favor of the Gamecocks.

Smith stayed composed and worked a one-two-three top of the fifth, then was once again rewarded by his teammates at the plate. Gilliam belted the first pitch he saw for an opposite-field jack, putting the Cats ahead 4-1. Smith allowed an infield single in the next half-inning, but faced just four batters as he rounded out his excellent appearance.

The Cats turned to Ryan Hagenow in the top of the seventh, but the midseason All-American's struggles continued. After blowing a save opportunity in UK's third loss to No. 5 Vanderbilt last Sunday, Hagenow quickly allowed a trio of singles, the latter of which was an RBI knock off the bat of Michael Braswell. After facing just four batters, Mingione yanked the righty in favor of another righty — Mason Moore.

Moore allowed a sacrifice fly to Cole Messina after hitting superstar RF Ethan Petry to load the bases with one out. Ahead by just one run with a runner in scoring position, the reliable reliever fanned Denny on three pitches to stop the bleeding.

In danger of losing its lead and dropping a series opener for the fourth weekend in a row, the Cats were finally able to respond with a big inning of its own, as the SC bullpen and defense imploded. Eli Jones was the second arm in relief of Sanders, who lasted five.

After a leadoff single from Grant Smith, Gray reached on a bunt that saw an error from Messina. Felker then did the same, but his bunt went airborne and got past the crashing Gamecock defense, loading the bases with no outs. Jones then walked Gilliam on four pitches to make it 5-3 UK.

Following a trainer's visit, Jones struck out Émilien Pitre, but surrendered a two-run single off the bat of Waldschmidt, who pulled back on a bunt and slashed one over the head of Casas. Ahead 7-3, Moore did the rest, shutting down the SC bats for an eight-out save, pushing the Cats to victory, setting the tone for the weekend.

"When we can just stay on the attack, go right at guys — we have a great defense. Let our defense play, that's us at our best," Mingione said.

The Cats and Cocks will return to KPP for game two of the series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. EST. The game will once again be televised on SEC Network+ as UK looks to win its first series since the first weekend in April.

How UK needs to finish to make the NCAA Tournament

Two Wildcats named 2024 MLB Draft Prospects

Hunter Gilliam: From Longwood Walk-On to Kentucky's Captain

Shortstop Grant Smith named to Brooks Wallace Award Watch List

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

Sports Illustrated also offers insight, information and up to the minute details for gamblers. Check it out here.