Nick Lopez hit his first home run in blue to break the game open and Drew Lafferty continued the brilliant start to his collegiate career on the mound as No. 25 run-ruled Eastern Kentucky, 10-0, in seven innings on Tuesday.
The teams will meet again on EKU’s campus at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Lopez lifted a pitch into the UK bullpen in left field as part of a five-run third inning. The California native leads UK (11-1) in extra-base hits (7) and batting average (.371). He also benefitted from batting behind Patrick Herrera, who reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances.
Lafferty, a redshirt from Pennsylvania, was economical in his five innings of work. He has not allowed a run in the first 10.0 innings of his collegiate career and the two hits EKU (2-10) managed on Tuesday marked the first two of the season Lafferty has allowed. He struck out a career-best five and did not walk anyone. Scoreless innings by Hayden Smith and Zach Hise extended the consecutive scoreless inning streak by the bullpen to 19.2 innings dating to February 25.
UK now has won seven straight games and 35 of its past 40 non-conference games.
The Kentucky will head down I-75 to play EKU in Richmond, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6. The game will be broadcast on the UK Sports Network, with streaming available on ESPN+.
Last Laff: Lafferty Continues Spotless Start to Kentucky Career – UK Athletics​
The teams will meet again on EKU’s campus at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Lopez lifted a pitch into the UK bullpen in left field as part of a five-run third inning. The California native leads UK (11-1) in extra-base hits (7) and batting average (.371). He also benefitted from batting behind Patrick Herrera, who reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances.
Lafferty, a redshirt from Pennsylvania, was economical in his five innings of work. He has not allowed a run in the first 10.0 innings of his collegiate career and the two hits EKU (2-10) managed on Tuesday marked the first two of the season Lafferty has allowed. He struck out a career-best five and did not walk anyone. Scoreless innings by Hayden Smith and Zach Hise extended the consecutive scoreless inning streak by the bullpen to 19.2 innings dating to February 25.
UK now has won seven straight games and 35 of its past 40 non-conference games.
The Kentucky will head down I-75 to play EKU in Richmond, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6. The game will be broadcast on the UK Sports Network, with streaming available on ESPN+.
Last Laff: Lafferty Continues Spotless Start to Kentucky Career – UK Athletics​
Comment