KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior Kyle Cody (pictured) allowed two runs in seven inning to pace No. 12 Kentucky to a 10-2 win at Tennessee in the series rubber match, on a perfect Sunday afternoon, April 3, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Kentucky (20-8, 6-3 Southeastern Conference) won its third consecutive series to open conference play, marking a first for the Wildcats since 2013. UK opened its series with the Vols with a 14-5 loss on Friday, before UK bounced back with a 5-4 win on Saturday to set up the rubber-match victory. UK also opened its first two SEC weekends with losses in the series lidlifter, before bouncing back to win the final two games in each series. The Wildcats opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning, adding a run in the fourth, four in the eighth and three in the ninth inning. Tennessee plated single runs in the fourth and eighth innings.
A native of Chippewa Falls, Wis., Cody (3-1) worked into the eighth inning, allowing five hits and two runs, walking two and striking out eight. He allowed a single run in the fourth inning and exited in the eighth after a pair reached to open the inning. UK senior reliever Zach Strecker cleaned up the eighth, allowing one run to score on Cody’s line but getting a double play to end the frame.
The Wildcats collected 13 hits in the game, led by a 3-for-5 game with two RBI from Zach Reks. UK also had two-hit games from Evan White and Gunnar McNeill. McNeill extended his hitting streak to a program-record 23 games and White stretched his streak to 21 consecutive games. UK also got hits from JaVon Shelby, Dorian Hairston, Marcus Carson, Riley Mahan and Luke Becker. Sophomore catcher Troy Squires had a career day, going 1-for-2 with a double and three RBI. Tennessee (17-11, 3-6 SEC) starter Andy Cox (2-3) worked 7.1 innings on 120 pitches, allowing eight hits and four runs, walking two and striking out four. UT used Jon Lipinski, Daniel Vasquez and Alex Harper-Cook in relief. Kentucky will return to action on Wednesday, hosting No. 4 Louisville in a 7:30 p.m. ET showdown at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Photo by UK Athletics
