SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Nick Lopez smacked a pair of doubles among a three-hit day and Grant Smith kickstarted an air-tight team defensive effort with another highlight-reel play to help spark Kentucky to an 11-7 season-opening victory over a spry USC Upstate squad on a crisp, overcast afternoon at Harley Park.
Lopez keyed an offensive attack that saw eight of nine starters record a hit and produced a pair of four-run innings to offset a pair of Spartans home runs. Devin Burkes provided the exclamation point with a towering two-run blast in the eighth after earlier dropping down a perfect bunt single on an unsuspecting defense.
Defensively, the Cats (1-0) received contributions from numerous parties but none more important than from its elite middle infield. Smith thwarted an Upstate rally attempt by diving to his left to snare a hard-hit grounder up the middle, flipped to Emilien Pitre at second, who barehanded the ball and threw a laser to first to complete the inning-ending double play.
James McCoy and Nolan McCarthy each got in on the defensive highlight tape as well. McCoy sprinted to the gap in right-center to catch a line drive, then doubled off the runner scrambling back to first. Later, McCarthy deftly played a deceiving wind while corralling a ball down the left field line.
Big Innings, Defense Carry Kentucky in Season-Opening Victory – UK Athletics
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Lopez keyed an offensive attack that saw eight of nine starters record a hit and produced a pair of four-run innings to offset a pair of Spartans home runs. Devin Burkes provided the exclamation point with a towering two-run blast in the eighth after earlier dropping down a perfect bunt single on an unsuspecting defense.
Defensively, the Cats (1-0) received contributions from numerous parties but none more important than from its elite middle infield. Smith thwarted an Upstate rally attempt by diving to his left to snare a hard-hit grounder up the middle, flipped to Emilien Pitre at second, who barehanded the ball and threw a laser to first to complete the inning-ending double play.
James McCoy and Nolan McCarthy each got in on the defensive highlight tape as well. McCoy sprinted to the gap in right-center to catch a line drive, then doubled off the runner scrambling back to first. Later, McCarthy deftly played a deceiving wind while corralling a ball down the left field line.
Big Innings, Defense Carry Kentucky in Season-Opening Victory – UK Athletics
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