RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior Reuben Church smacked a two-run double to left field and provided No. 25 Kentucky with the run support it needed to escape a rare midweek trip with a 5-2 victory over Eastern Kentucky. With the win, the Wildcats claimed the season sweep over the Colonels and matched the best start to a season since head coach Nick Mingione took over.
Despite not registering a hit until the eighth inning, the Wildcats (12-1, 0-0 SEC) were able to build off the backs of another strong pitching performance to rally in the late innings. Offensively, Church’s big hit was supported by junior Emilien Pitre, who broke up the no-hitter in the eighth with a clean single to right field, scored the tying run, and added a second base knock in a ninth-inning rally. Additionally, graduate Nick Lopez drove in three RBI on the day, thanks to a pair of sacrifice flies and a fielder’s choice.
On the mound, the Kentucky staff was exceptional once again, holding the Colonels without an earned run. Graduate Johnny Hummel earned his first win as a Wildcat, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing no hits, and striking out three. Graduate Trey Pooser earned his first save in blue, pitching the final two innings of the game and protecting the Kentucky lead with four strikeouts. Overall, Kentucky pitchers have only given up four runs over the past 41 innings, with only two of those being earned.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the first, turning a pair of walks and a HBP into a run after a Lopez SAC fly. The Colonels responded in the bottom of the frame, capitalizing on a Kentucky error to tie the game. The two teams traded scoreless innings until the sixth, when a pair of EKU infield hits and a HBP loaded the bases. Hummel entered the game in the game and rolled a ground ball, but an error on the throw home gave the home team the lead. The run ended a 23-inning scoreless streak by the Wildcat bullpen. Kentucky loaded the bases in the seventh, but still trailed 2-1 heading into the final two innings.
Pitre led off the eighth with the team’s first hit, sparking a three-run frame that put the game away. He advanced to third on a passed ball and a failed pickoff, allowing Lopez to tie the game with his second SAC fly of the night. Later in the inning, Church came to the plate with the bases loaded and blasted a ball to left field, hitting the wall and driving in the go-ahead runs.
In the ninth, junior Ryan Waldschmidt was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Pitre’s second hit of the game and scored on a ground ball by Lopez. The Colonels did not have a baserunner in the final two innings, as Kentucky pitching shut down the game, securing the Wildcat win.
No. 25 Kentucky will host Kennesaw State for a weekend series that opens Friday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. on Friday, March 8. The game will be broadcast on the UK Sports Network, with streaming available on SECN+.
No. 25 Kentucky Mounts Comeback in Win at EKU – UK Athletics​
Despite not registering a hit until the eighth inning, the Wildcats (12-1, 0-0 SEC) were able to build off the backs of another strong pitching performance to rally in the late innings. Offensively, Church’s big hit was supported by junior Emilien Pitre, who broke up the no-hitter in the eighth with a clean single to right field, scored the tying run, and added a second base knock in a ninth-inning rally. Additionally, graduate Nick Lopez drove in three RBI on the day, thanks to a pair of sacrifice flies and a fielder’s choice.
On the mound, the Kentucky staff was exceptional once again, holding the Colonels without an earned run. Graduate Johnny Hummel earned his first win as a Wildcat, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing no hits, and striking out three. Graduate Trey Pooser earned his first save in blue, pitching the final two innings of the game and protecting the Kentucky lead with four strikeouts. Overall, Kentucky pitchers have only given up four runs over the past 41 innings, with only two of those being earned.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the first, turning a pair of walks and a HBP into a run after a Lopez SAC fly. The Colonels responded in the bottom of the frame, capitalizing on a Kentucky error to tie the game. The two teams traded scoreless innings until the sixth, when a pair of EKU infield hits and a HBP loaded the bases. Hummel entered the game in the game and rolled a ground ball, but an error on the throw home gave the home team the lead. The run ended a 23-inning scoreless streak by the Wildcat bullpen. Kentucky loaded the bases in the seventh, but still trailed 2-1 heading into the final two innings.
Pitre led off the eighth with the team’s first hit, sparking a three-run frame that put the game away. He advanced to third on a passed ball and a failed pickoff, allowing Lopez to tie the game with his second SAC fly of the night. Later in the inning, Church came to the plate with the bases loaded and blasted a ball to left field, hitting the wall and driving in the go-ahead runs.
In the ninth, junior Ryan Waldschmidt was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Pitre’s second hit of the game and scored on a ground ball by Lopez. The Colonels did not have a baserunner in the final two innings, as Kentucky pitching shut down the game, securing the Wildcat win.
No. 25 Kentucky will host Kennesaw State for a weekend series that opens Friday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. on Friday, March 8. The game will be broadcast on the UK Sports Network, with streaming available on SECN+.
No. 25 Kentucky Mounts Comeback in Win at EKU – UK Athletics​
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