LEXINGTON, Ky. (Interstat) — The Kentucky Wildcats overcame an early four-run deficit, scoring six unanswered runs to defeat the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 8-4 in a midweek, day-night affair at Kentucky Proud Park on Wednesday.

The Wildcats (11-2) relied on opportunistic offense and a dominant bullpen to sweep the two-game series after a 10-0 win on Tuesday. The Colonels fell to 3-10.

Eastern Kentucky capitalized on a Kentucky miscue to strike first. Pedro Moreno reached on catcher’s interference to lead off the game, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout and scored on an RBI single by David Alvarez. The Colonels added another run in the third when Khale Pratt singled home Ron Littlefield, who had been hit by a pitch, for a 4-0 lead.

Kentucky answered immediately in the bottom of the third against Eastern Kentucky starter Addison Stockham. After Sam Campbell was hit by a pitch, shortstop Luke Lawrence launched a two-run, inside-the-park home run to cut the deficit in half.

The Wildcats then methodically chipped away. They tied the game 4-4 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Camden Cloud and a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Schwartz. Kentucky took its first lead an inning later in unconventional fashion. Lawrence, who had been hit by a pitch and stolen third, scored on a wild pitch by reliever Gavin Faulkner.

The game’s decisive blow came in the bottom of the eighth. With the Wildcats clinging to a 5-4 lead, Campbell walked and stole second. Lawrence walked, and both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, second baseman Ethan Hindle cleared them with a two-run double to right field. Oliver Jenkins followed with an RBI single to cap the three-hit, three-run inning that provided the final margin.

Eastern Kentucky mounted a final threat in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Gunner Bingham doubled and Moreno tripled him home, but Wildcats reliever Ian Austin stranded the tying run at the plate by striking out Alvarez to end the game.

Kentucky’s bullpen was instrumental in the comeback. Following starter Chase Alderman, who allowed one earned run over 3 2/3 innings, five relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Nile Adcock, Oliver Boone, Leighton Harris and Austin were particularly effective, allowing just one hit and striking out six over the final 4 1/3 frames.

For Eastern Kentucky, Moreno finished with two RBIs. Stockham took the loss, allowing two earned runs over 3 1/3 innings. Colonels relievers Griffin Howell and Faulkner each provided two scoreless innings of relief to keep the game close.

Kentucky next hosts The Citadel for a three-game series beginning Friday. Eastern Kentucky returns home to face Illinois State in a three-game set starting the same day.