(WKYT) – Kentucky baseball’s SEC Tournament run got off to a tough start with an 8-5 loss to Vanderbilt in the opening round.
The Wildcats jumped out early, scoring in the first inning on an RBI single from Luke Lawrence, then added to the lead with a Tyler Bell solo home run in the third. Carsen Hansen followed with a solo shot in the fourth, and Lawrence delivered again with an RBI double in the fifth to give Kentucky a 4-1 advantage.
Vanderbilt flipped the game in the sixth inning, taking advantage of both timely hitting and Kentucky mistakes. The Commodores scored four runs in the frame, highlighted by RBI singles from Ryker Waite, Rustan Rigdon, and Colin Barczi, along with a run that came home on a Kentucky throwing error. The Wildcats were charged with two errors in the game, both proving costly during key moments as Vanderbilt took control.
The Commodores added insurance in the eighth, including a two-run homer from Brodie Johnston, while Kentucky managed a late RBI single from Owen Jenkins in the ninth.
Jaxon Jelkin was charged with the loss for Kentucky, falling to 8-3, while Vanderbilt’s Alex Kranzler picked up the win in relief.
Kentucky finished with eight hits but couldn’t overcome Vanderbilt’s 12-hit performance as the Wildcats dropped their tournament opener.
Kentucky will now wait for Selection Monday to learn if they’ve done enough to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.