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Kentucky rallies, hangs on to win extra-winnings thriller over Florida

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Kentucky and Florida are facing off in a weekend series, and the two sides delivered an affair for the ages in Friday’s series opener. The No. 4 team in the country, the Wildcats are looking to hold onto a lead in the SEC.

However, the Gators raced out to a 5-1 lead with a 3-run home run from Colby Shelton and a solo shot from Brody Donay. Kentucky would answer back with a pair of runs in the top of the 5th while the score would remain 5-3 heading into the 7th inning.

That frame began with the Wildcats getting the first 2 runners on base and a brilliant chance to cut into the lead or tie things up with 2 on and no outs. Unfortunately, a blunder for the ages cost Kentucky that chance.

A bunt attempt that was pulled back led to both runners get hung up between bases. The Gators were able to get the lead runner swiftly, and the runner on 1st base was not quick with his decision-making.

It led to a great double play for Florida but an utter blunder for Kentucky:

Even with that blunder, Kentucky was able to tie things up in the top of the 8th with Ryan Nicholson hitting a 2-run HR and Eli Small driving in a run with a double. Still, it looked like those those missed runs in the 7th would come back to haunt the Wildcats.

Florida retook the lead in the bottom of the 8th with an RBI double from Tyler Shelnut and a sacrifice fly from Dale Thomas to add on. That gave the Gators an 8-6 lead heading into the 9th.

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That would still not be enough to decide this one. Nicholson would deliver his 2nd homer of the game — a 3-run shot — to give the Wildcats a 9-8 lead. Nicholson would end the game with 5 RBI on those 2 HRs with 2 runs scored.

Even with the 9-8 lead, Kentucky was unable to shut this one down in regulation. The Gators would send this one to extra innings but were immediately in trouble in the 10th inning. Nick Lopez would finally clear the bases with a double for the 12-9 lead.

The fireworks would continue in the bottom of the 10th as Florida nearly tied things up once again. Jac Caglianone delivered another home run to lead off the frame to keep pressure on the Wildcats.

Colby Shelton would add a second run in the frame, but Kentucky was finally able to slam the door shut with a 12-11 win. The two sides combined to use 12 pitchers in the first game of the series, so it will be interesting to see how that impacts the rest of the weekend.

The two sides will be back in action Saturday at 12 pm ET.

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.

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