Kentucky Baseball sweeps third series of season

On3 imageby:Hunter Shelton03/14/22

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Kentucky Baseball (14-2) picked up three wins in three different fashions against the High Point Panthers (4-13 inside Kentucky Proud Park over the weekend. Whether it was a demolition, a slugfest or a pitchers duel, UK found a way to win.

Here’s how it happened:

Nothing new, 14 runs in game one

At this point, double-digit runs should be expected from the Bat ‘Cats. Nine Wildcats totaled 12 hits in game one of a doubleheader against the Panthers, leading to a 14-3 drubbing.

Left fielder Kirk Leibert led the ‘Cats with five RBI, headlined by a grand slam over the right-field wall in the bottom of the fifth.

Ryan Ritter got the party started in the first, tagging what would be one of two leadoff homers this series. Ritter, along with Alonzo Rubalcaba and Daniel Harris IV, recorded two hits in game one.

Like Leibert, Rubalcaba also had a base-clearing at-bat, as he smoked a double down the left-field line in the third inning to extend UK’s lead to 8-0.

In a game where he didn’t have to, Cole Stupp finally stepped up and delivered a quality start for the Wildcats. The righty hurled six innings of three-run baseball, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out six.

It’s been a rocky start for the “ace” of the staff, but the decent outing slimmed his ERA down to 7.71. Still bad? Yes, but better.

Redshirt freshman Evan Byers came in to pitch the seventh and final inning for his first appearance of the season, where he sat the Panthers down one-two-three to cap off a nice and smooth opening game for the Wildcats.

Enough offense to get by in game two

The backend of the doubleheader wasn’t nearly as easy as game one. Even still, UK tacked on 12 more hits, outlasting High Point 9-5 in nine innings.

It appeared as though the ‘Cats were going to waltz by to yet another easy win, as they led 7-0 through four innings.

After Ritter’s second leadoff bomb, he then tripled home two more runners in the second. First baseman Jacob Plastiak followed suit, hitting his sixth home run of the season, scoring Ritter.

The Panthers would make it a game in the top of the fifth, however.

UK starter Magdiel Cotto cruised through four innings before allowing three hits and two walks, all of which would come back to bite him, ending his night. He made it through 4.2 innings, allowing just the three singles, but four walks led to five earned runs for the South Carolina transfer.

Chase Estep would rip his second home run of the day in the sixth inning to extend UK’s lead back three. Fogel doubled home Estep in the eighth, making it 9-5.

The Panthers couldn’t muster any further offense, thanks to Darren Williams, who came in and tossed 4.1 innings of shutout ball. He allowed four hits while striking out five, earning the win.

Ritter’s 3-5 day at the plate, totaling three RBI and three runs scored, did enough to get the ‘Cats yet another series victory.

Offense comes to screeching halt in finale, ‘Cats still find a way

The Wildcats run machine must’ve been under maintenance on Sunday afternoon. Luckily, it only took eight innings to get it up and running, as the ‘Cats found victory 4-3, scoring two runs in the ninth.

Kentucky finished with a rather human, seven-hit performance, but did just enough when they needed it most.

In the ninth, Fogel led off with a single, who would then be pinch-ran for by Nolan McCarthy.

Devin Burkes would then lay down a sacrifice bunt, which would be overthrown by the pitcher, allowing Burkes to reach while McCarthy scampered to third. Harris IV then drove in the run on a fielders choice, tying the game.

With ‘Cats on first and second, a wild pitch moved the runners 90 feet, putting the winning run on third base.

Rubalcaba would knock a grounder to second, which allowed the winning run to reach home plate. With the snap of a finger, the bats woke up and saved the sweep inside Kentucky Proud Park.

It was a bullpen day for the pitching staff, starting with Ryan Hagenow. He threw three scoreless, striking out six, walking just two. Tyler Guilfoil would follow, giving up three hits in two innings, allowing the first casualty of the afternoon.

Once again, it would be Sean Harney who took the heavy load out of the bullpen, throwing 3.2 innings of hitless baseball.

In a game where they truly needed it, the bullpen stepped up in a big way, holding the Panthers to six hits and three runs.


Next up for Kentucky is the last non-conference matchup before the grueling SEC schedule takes place. The ‘Cats will travel to Bloomington to take on the Indiana Hoosiers on Tuesday, March 15, with first pitch set for 5 p.m. EST.

Then, the big boys are next. Kentucky will open SEC play in Fayetteville with a three-game set at Arkansas.

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2024-03-28