Kentucky baseball gets much-needed SEC win over No. 2 Tennessee

McCay was magnificent in keeping the Volunteers hitters off balance. He fanned a season-high 12 batters and allowed just two hits, none after the third inning. His only blemish was an unearned inherited runner that scored after he departed. Lefty Jackson Nove struck out the side in the ninth to notch his first save.

UK (21-15, 7-10 Southeastern Conference) set the tone right away, swiping eight bases in the first three innings, one of which led to an error that scored a run. On the night, the Cats stole 10 bases, by seven different players, in 11 attempts. It is the most stolen bases in a game since at least 2007.

Freshman Ryan Schwartz had a pair of hits and the Cats manufactured runs in both the third and sixth innings.

NOTES
Kentucky is 21-15 (7-10 SEC) on the season.
UK now has held a lead in 16 of 17 SEC games this season.
UK drew one HBP in the game and now have 104 on the season.
UK entered the weekend ranked second nationally.
UK stole 10 bases in 11 attempts.
It is the most stolen bases in a game since single-game records started being kept in 2007. The record had been eight, set twice, once this season vs. Hofstra and once in 2010.
Seven different players stole a base.
The one caught stealing was on a pickoff that is officially scored a caught stealing.
UK now has played its first six SEC series against No. 3, No. 16, the preseason No. 1, No. 9, No. 2 and No. 2.
UK now has three wins over Top 3 teams and four over Top 10 opponents.

UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 284-179 career record.
Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
UK is 62-65 in the month of April under Coach Mingione.
Mingione now is 10-13 vs. Tennessee.

RHP Nic McCay was masterful: 7.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 12 K
He set season highs in innings, strikeouts and pitches.
His 12 strikeouts are the most by a UK pitcher since Zack Lee had 12 vs. South Carolina in 2023.
It is his third quality start of the season (6 IP, 3 or fewer runs).
He did not allow a hit after the third inning.
LHP Jackson Nove earned the save.
He struck out the side in the ninth inning.
C Ryan Schwartz went 2-for-4 with a run and a double.
He notched his first career extra base hit and multi-hit game.
INF Tyler Bell now has reached base safely in 35 of 36 career games.
He hit his team-leading 14th double.
He stole two bases.

ON DECK
The Cats and No. 2 Tennessee complete their series on Easter Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. It will air on the SEC Network+ and radio will be carried by the UK Sports Network.