LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky bounced back in perfect fashion from its first rough weekend in Southeastern Conference play, sweeping Tennessee on the strength of Sunday’s 7-2 victory in front of 3,085 fans at Cliff Hagan Stadium on a magnificent Mother’s Day afternoon.

The three-game wipeout of the Volunteers sets the No. 8 Wildcats up for next weekend’s showdown against Florida with the SEC championship on the line. The Cats (36-16, 18-9 SEC) will need to win at least two of three games to claim a piece of the division – and possibly overall – crown in coach Nick Mingione’s first season at the helm of the program.

UK junior infielder Riley Mahan continued his white-hot weekend, ripping a two-run triple in a four-run first inning as part of a 3-for-5 day where he fell just a home run short of hitting for the cycle. For the weekend, Mahan went 9-of-13 (.692) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs, six runs scored and eight RBI.

Mahan’s effort was bolstered by sophomore outfielder Tristan Pompey (3-for-4, solo home run), senior outfielder Zach Reks (3-for-5) and junior catcher Troy Squires (2-for-3, two RBI) as the Cats piled up 15 hits on the afternoon.

Freshman lefty Zack Thompson picked up his second victory of the week, getting starter Justin Lewis out of a jam in the fourth and pitching 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Logan Salow pitched the final 2.1 innings to pick up his 10th save, the second-most in a single season in school history.

Kentucky hosts its final regular season home game when Northern Kentucky makes the short trip south for a Tuesday night affair. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. and fans can listen on the UK Sports Network via UKathletics.com and iHeart Radio, as well as on 630 AM WLAP, and watch on SEC Network Plus (online).

Photo by Britney Howard, UK Athletics