LEXINGTON, Ky. (Interstat) — Hunter Dietz struck out nine but the Kentucky Wildcats rallied from an early deficit Thursday afternoon, defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 4-3 at Kentucky Proud Park.

Dietz pitched six innings, allowing three earned runs with nine strikeouts. His counterpart, Nate Harris, worked three scoreless innings, striking out three, but did not factor into the decision as the Wildcats used a four-man relief corps to hold off the Razorbacks.

Arkansas, which entered with a 34-18 record, struck first in the top of the third inning. After Carson Pompey walked and stole second, a wild pitch brought him home to give the Razorbacks a 1-0 lead. That run came after Kentucky had taken a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run by Ethan Hindle, who drove in T. Bell after Bell had singled.

The Wildcats answered immediately in the bottom of the third, but Dietz retired the side in order. The pivotal frame came in the fourth. Hindle led off with a single, and Van Cleave singled to put runners at first and second. After a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, H. Brown grounded into a double play that allowed Hindle to score, tying the game at 2-2. The next batter, O. Jenkins, reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Van Cleave to score from third with what proved to be the winning run. Jenkins stole second, but Dietz escaped further damage.

Arkansas nibbled back in the seventh. With one out, pinch hitter Robinett walked, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Ryder Helfrick, pulling the Razorbacks within 4-3. That was all the offense the visitors could muster against a parade of Kentucky relievers.

Tommy Skelding earned the win after throwing 2 1/3 innings of two-hit, shutout ball with one strikeout. Jack Sams followed with 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts. Jaxon Jelkin worked two innings, surrendering one run on one hit with two strikeouts, and Parker Coil closed with 1 1/3 hitless innings, striking out one.

For Arkansas, James DeCremer recorded two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning, and Coil also pitched in relief. The Razorbacks managed only four hits in the game, including a solo home run by Zack Stewart leading off the ninth inning that cut the deficit to one. Stewart finished 1-for-3 with the homer and an RBI. Helfrick also had a hit and an RBI.

Kentucky outhit Arkansas 7-4. Hindle led the Wildcats with three hits in four at-bats, including the homer and two RBIs. The Wildcats improved to 31-18 overall.

The game was the first of a three-game Southeastern Conference series. The teams meet again Friday and Saturday at Kentucky Proud Park.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Arkansas 7, Kentucky 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Arkansas a 56.40 percent probability to win. Arkansas was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus-1.5.