Kentucky Takes the Series against Austin Peay with a 12-5 Victory

by:Brent Wainscott02/16/19
[caption id="attachment_256347" align="aligncenter" width="1242"] UKBaseball[/caption] Kentucky's bats were hot today in chilly Clarksville, Tennesee as the Cats hang 12 runs to beat Austin Peay, and take their first series in the 2019 season. Kentucky busted the game open early with half of their runs coming in the third inning. Two of Kentucky's six runs in the third inning came on the big bat of TJ Collett who hit a line drive two-run home run that extended Kentucky's lead to five. Collett has hit two home runs in as many games this season, and he had three RBIs on the day after an RBI single in the 7th. That gives him six RBIs this weekend. Before the big swing of Collett, the Cats utilized small ball. After Alex Rodriguez walked, Zeke Lewis bunted him over in order for the lineup to roll over, then the big inning was sparked by a Breydon Daniel single that scored Rodriguez. Daniel would score on a double from Cam Hill, as hill advanced to third. Then Jaren Shelby would knock in Hill with an infield single. To cap the big inning off, Dalton Reed scored on a past ball after he hit a double and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. Zeke Lewis, who has been utilized as a sacrifice this weekend, fittingly got his first RBI on the season with an RBI groundout that scored Ryan Shinn in the sixth. The rest of Kentucky's runs were set up on the poor play of Austin Peay's defense, as Alex Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch in the eighth inning, and two runs came off of errors in the 9th. Kentucky's defense was just as sloppy though, as they gave up four errors in the game and an unearned run. But, it's worth mentioning the two amazing plays that took place in the outfield in the first frame. Cam Hill had a leaping grab at the wall to start of the ball game on the defensive end for the Cats, and Rayn Shinn got down and dirty to make a diving grab to leave two Austin Peay runners stranded in the first. It was a solid day on the bump for Jimmy Ramsey as he only allowed three hits through and two runs through five innings. He also had eight strikeouts on the day. Lexington Catholic Alum, Trip Lockett, gave up a hit and a run through two innings. Braxton Cottongame, the freshman from Perry County Central, made his collegiate debut this afternoon. Although it wasn't a stellar outing, giving up four hits and two runs through five batters faced, Cottongame did get his first career strikeout in the blue and white. He's got plenty of more games under his belt to improve. Brett Marshall would bail Cottongame out, shutting the door in the ninth as the Cats would hold off Austin Peay to take the series. Jimmy Ramsey was credited the winning pitcher in this afternoon's contest. The Cats will go for the sweep tomorrow at 2 PM. Same drill as today, the only way to catch the game will be on 98.5 Lexington FM. That makes one Kentucky team to beat a Tennesee team today, now let's make it two.
@BrentW_KSR

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