Devin Burkes' Clutch Home Run Propels Kentucky to 15th Straight Victory
Eastern Kentucky made the 30-minute drive to Kentucky Proud Park Tuesday afternoon and became the latest victims of the Wildcats’ winning streak.
After leading through seven, Devin Burkes nuked a two-run home run to put the ‘Cats back on top. Kentucky’s relief pitching then shut down the Colonels’ offense to help preserve a 9-3 win. The No. 23 ranked Bat ‘Cats pushed their winning streak to 15 games with the victory.
“I feel like we got off to a bit of a slow start today and I felt like we weren’t clicking,” Burkes told KSR after the game. “I’m grateful that [the home run] made us click and be able to do what we’re capable of.”
This was a gritty win for the ‘Cats, as they were without their senior leader in this one. Grad transfer Hunter Gilliam was inactive for Tuesday night’s matchup, as he served an NCAA-mandated one-game suspension for Sunday’s ejection due to excessive celebration. Gilly’s presence was dearly missed in the heart of the lineup.
Starting on the mound for Kentucky was redshirt freshman RHP Travis Smith, who made his fifth and most efficient start of the season. Smith, who remains on a pitch count due to recent Tommy John surgery, pitched four innings, giving up just one hit and no earned runs.
“I thought this was [Travis’] best outing,” Head coach Nick Mingione said postgame. “He looked like he was in total control and I have to remind myself sometimes that he’s a freshman coming off a major injury. We have high expectations for him and I think he can handle them.”
Wildcats Take Early Lead
As they have most of the season, Kentucky took an early lead in this one. Jackson Gray started off the game with a double, his seventh of the year. After Jase Felker was plunked and Devin Burkes was walked, the bases were loaded for Émilien Pitre. Pitre flied out to left field, but it was deep enough for Felker to score from third.
The ‘Cats continued to add to their lead in the bottom of the second inning. The former Colonel Kendal Ewell was walked on five pitches and swiped second, setting up Gray nicely. Gray slapped a single through the right side, allowing Ewell to score a run against his former team.
The offense uncharacteristically dried up after this inning.
Colonels Fight Back
After going down two runs early, EKU didn’t go away without a fight. Following Smith’s departure after the fourth inning, the Colonels finally found success against his replacement, Ryder Giles. Giles, who entered in the top of the fifth, gave up three hits and three runs in the inning.
After plunking Roderick Criss to begin the inning, DJ Sullivan singled to right field to put two on with no outs for the Kerns. Hayden Duffield made Giles pay, as he smoked a liner to left field. Waldschmidt badly misplayed the ball, allowing it to roll all the way to the wall. Criss scored with ease, cutting the deficit in half.
After notching his second out of the inning, Giles gave up the lead. Senior Logan Thomason, who went 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, two runs and four RBIs in last year’s matchup, singled through the left side, scoring both Sullivan and Duffield. The Colonels took a 3-2 lead after five.
Devin Burkes Saves The Day
Heading into the bottom of the seventh trailing by one, Devin Burkes took the game over. After Jase Felker singled to start off the inning, Devo belted a 424-foot, no-doubt home run to left center field, driving in two runs to give the ‘Cats the lead for the first time in three innings.
Burkes’ homer disappeared into the night in what was the loudest crowd roar of the season. Kentucky Proud Park continues to get louder and fuller every week.
The Kentucky offense continued its resurgence later in the inning. Ryan Waldschmidt drew a four-pitch walk, putting a runner on first for pinch-hitter Chase Stanke. Stanke knocked his first double of the season to center field, scoring Waldy from first to push the Kentucky lead to two through seven.
After regaining the lead in the bottom of the seventh, the ‘Cats scored four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Devin Burkes notched his third RBI over the last two innings, scoring Grant Smith on a sac-fly to left field. Stanke later drew a walk to plate a freebie as the bases were full.
With the bases still loaded, James McCoy laced a two-RBI single to center field, scoring both Pitre and Felker. Blink and you may have missed it, but the Wildcats’ lead swelled to six.
Following Giles’ departure in the sixth, the Kentucky bullpen completely shut down the EKU offense. Other than allowing a leadoff triple in the seventh, Zach Hise, Jackson Nove, Austin Strickland, and Colby Frieda were stellar once again. These four pitched the final four innings for the ‘Cats and allowed just two hits and no earned runs.
“I just love how this team is focused on what’s in front of them,” Coach Mingione told KSR after the game. “They’re just not getting too far down the road and that’s how we’ve been able to stay locked in. The most important game on our schedule is the one that we’re playing right now.”
Kentucky improves to 19-2 with the win and will travel to Tuscaloosa for a weekend series with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Friday’s game is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. EST.
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