The No. 11 Kentucky baseball team clinched one of its best finished in modern program history with Thursday's 5-1 win over No. 21 Mississippi State. In the modern era of the SEC Tournament (1998-present), Kentucky has never made the semifinals before this season.
UK starter Jerad Grundy gave up one earned run on just four hits over six innings. He also struck out nine. Third baseman Thomas McCarthy led the Wildcats at the plate, going 4-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Catcher Michael Williams went 3-for-4 with an RBI. The Bulldogs pitching staff hadn't given up more than three earned runs in its previous 20 games.
Mississippi State scored in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Kentucky scored two in the third inning to take the lead and only added on. The Wildcats scored one in the fifth and put the game away with two more in the ninth. Hunter Renfroe went 2-for-4 to lead the Bulldogs.
Kentucky will get a bye and play Saturday, while Mississippi State's season will be on the line on Friday against LSU.
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