No.21 Kentucky Claims Game One Over Alabama 7-4 in SEC Series Opener

LEXINGTON, KY – Alabama dropped game one of its SEC season opener against Kentucky on Friday, as three different Wildcats hitters each homered.

Get our free mobile app

The Crimson Tide struck first with a solo home run from shortstop Justin Lebron, giving Alabama a 1-0 lead going into the bottom half of the inning. It was Lebron’s ninth home run of the season.

Kentucky responded in the bottom half of the first when second baseman Ethan Hindle hit a two-run home run, his sixth of the season, giving Kentucky a 2-1 lead heading into the second inning.

The Wildcats extended their lead in the second inning when right fielder Ryan Schwart hit a two-run shot over left field for his second home run of the season, making it a three-run lead going into the third.

Kentucky continued its offensive push, picking up three more runs over the next three innings. One came from a fielding error that allowed shortstop Luke Lawrence to score, making it a 5-1 game entering the fourth inning.

In the fourth inning, Wildcats catcher Owen Jenkins hit Kentucky’s third home run of the day—a solo shot over right field, to make it 6-1 going into the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Kentucky added another run when third baseman Tracy Cerny’s groundout to first drove in Lawrence from third, giving the Wildcats a 7-1 lead heading into the sixth.

Kentucky’s starting pitcher, Jaxon Jelkin, had a solid outing despite giving up home runs in the first and sixth innings. The right-hander scattered six hits, allowed four runs, and struck out five before being pulled in the top of the sixth after surrendering a three-run homer to Alabama’s designated hitter John Lemm. That blast cut the Tide’s six-run deficit down to three heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Alabama’s starting pitcher, Tyler Fay, had a rocky outing, giving up eight hits and six earned runs. However, Fay struck out eight batters, five of those coming after his third home run allowed in the top of the fourth inning. Fay pitched seven innings in game one’s loss. 

In the top of the seventh, Alabama loaded the bases and brought in Andrew Purdy to pinch hit for first baseman Luke Vaughn. Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, Purdy struck out looking, ending the inning and leaving the bases loaded.

Alabama was unable to overcome the Wildcats’ three-run lead, failing to score again as Kentucky held on for its first win of the SEC season opener.

The Crimson Tide fell to 15-4 overall and 0-1 in SEC play. Alabama pitcher Tyler Fay’s record dropped to 3-2.

The Crimson Tide will be back in action for game two tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT, as Alabama looks for its first conference win and aims to force a rubber match on Sunday.

Follow @micahnichols0 on X (formerly Twitter) and tune in to Tide 100.9 for all your Alabama baseball and football coverage.