The Citadel
5-6
Kentucky
12-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Citadel | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | X | 10 | 13 | 1 |
The Citadel Falters in Series Opener to No. 21 Kentucky, 10-5
3/6/2026 9:37:00 PM | Baseball
Jayden Williams posted a career-best game with three hits, two runs scored, a double, and a stolen base. Miles Barbrey matched that performance with three hits, an RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. Phillips Daniels added an RBI and a walk, while Rhyder Poppell hit his first home run of the season. The Citadel recorded a season-high 12 hits as well.
On the mound, Will Holmes started for the Bulldogs, tossing 2.0 innings and allowing just one run on one hit with five walks and two strikeouts. Andrew Buffkin threw 2.2 innings in relief, giving up two runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Michael Gibson pitched 1.2 innings, issuing two walks while surrendering five earned runs and recording two strikeouts. Zane Davis finished the game behind 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and no walks while setting down two on strikes.
"Not the result we wanted. I thought the game was much closer than the final score showed," head coach Russell Triplett said. "Our hitters did a really good job against an elite pitcher, but we couldn't extend the lead in the middle of the game, and the big inning caught us in the seventh."
The Bulldogs face the Wildcats in the second game of the weekend set at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 7.
Philly drives in J-Will from third! 💪
— The Citadel Baseball (@CitadelBaseball) March 6, 2026
T1 | CIT 1, UK 0 #jOURney pic.twitter.com/8cLDO7f1eR
4️⃣-6️⃣-3️⃣!#jOURney pic.twitter.com/K37YSMP6VY
— The Citadel Baseball (@CitadelBaseball) March 6, 2026
RHYDER POPPELL 💣!
— The Citadel Baseball (@CitadelBaseball) March 6, 2026
Poppell belts the solo home run to right!#jOURney pic.twitter.com/4YgXsO9qcS
Gibby punches out the batter to strand the bases loaded!
— The Citadel Baseball (@CitadelBaseball) March 6, 2026
E5 | CIT 5, UK 3#jOURney pic.twitter.com/XvLq7tNkIv
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Connor Mattison (2-0)
L: Gibson, Michael (1-1)
S: Jack Bennett (3)
Batting:
2B: Williams, Jayden 1
HR: Poppell, Rhyder 1
RBI: Barbrey, Miles 1 ; Daniels, Phillips 1 ; Hunt, Zach 1 ; Anderson, TJ 1 ; Poppell, Rhyder 1
SH: Anderson, TJ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Jayden 2 ; Barbrey, Miles 1 ; Daniels, Phillips 1 ; Poppell, Rhyder 1
SB: Williams, Jayden 1 ; Barbrey, Miles 1
HBP: Daniels, Phillips 1
Batting:
2B: Ethan Hindle 1 ; Tyler Bell 1 ; Caeden Cloud 1 ; Scott Campbell Jr. 1
3B: Scott Campbell Jr. 1
HR: Ethan Hindle 1 ; Tyler Bell 1
RBI: Luke Lawrence 1 ; Jayce Tharnish 3 ; Ethan Hindle 2 ; Tyler Bell 2 ; Scott Campbell Jr. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Luke Lawrence 1 ; Jayce Tharnish 1 ; Ethan Hindle 2 ; Tyler Bell 1 ; Owen Jenkins 1 ; Caeden Cloud 2 ; Scott Campbell Jr. 2
SB: Luke Lawrence 1 ; Jayce Tharnish 1
HBP: Luke Lawrence 1 ; Tyler Bell 1
