Cleaver’s Brilliance, Offensive Breakout Power Run-Rule Victory
NASHVILLE – Ben Cleaver was virtually untouchable on the mound and No. 23 Kentucky’s hitters finally found their rhythm in a 12-0 run-rule victory over Belmont at E.S. Rose Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Cats will go for the sweep on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET/1 CT.
Cleaver set the tone right out of the gate and never looked backed, striking out 11 in 6.0 innings of one-hit baseball just 30 minutes from his hometown. He allowed just one baserunner on a fourth inning single and threw only 69 total pitches while striking out the side in order three times in the game.
Conversely, UK’s hitters displayed a patient approach at the plate and took advantage of a wild Belmont staff, earning six hit by pitch and seven walks. UK (3-1) also stole four bases but it was three knockout blows via the long ball that ensured victory. Freshman Tyler Bell hit his first career blast in the fifth, a three-run shot that traveled 431 feet and then Junior Carson Hansen offered a punctuation point with a pinch hit grand slam in the seventh, his first plate appearance of the season. Senior Devin Burkes also homered.
NOTES
- Kentucky is 3-1 on the season.
- UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 265-167 career record.
- Mingione now is the second-winningest coach in school history.
- UK is 49-18 in the month of February under Coach Mingione.
- Mingione is 154-46 in non-conference games overall and 134-20 vs. non-Power Five opponents.
- Mingione now is 2-0 vs. Belmont.
- UK’s pitchers have held opponents scoreless in 31 of 33 innings this season.
- In the series, UK pitchers have struck out 26 batters and walked just one.
- UK drew six HBPs and seven walks.
- UK has posted two shutouts in four games and allowed more than one run just once.
- UK has outscored its opponents 26-4 on the season.
- Sophomore Ben Cleaver tossed six innings of one-hit ball, striking out 11 without issuing a walk.
- Cleaver struck out the side three times.
- He threw just 69 pitches.
- The six innings and 11 strikeouts both were career highs.
- He allowed just one baserunner in the game, none past first.
- He is the first UK pitcher to strike out 10 or more in a game since Trey Pooser (11) at South Carolina in 2024.
- For the season: 9.2 IP, 5 hits, 16 strikeouts.
- Freshman Tyler Bell went 2-for-3 with three runs, four RBI, HR, SB and HBP.
- He clubbed his first career home run, a 431-foot, three-run shot.
- He has three hits in the series.
- Senior Cole Hage reached base safely all four times he came to the plate but did not have an official AB: 0-0, 3 BB, HBP, SB, 2 R
- Senior Devin Burkes went 2-for-3 with two runs, an RBI, HR, BB
- He moved up to 41st place on UK’s all-time hit list with 130 career knocks.
- Junior Carson Hansen delivered a pinch hit grand slam in his first UK at bat.
- He is the first UK player to homer in his first AB of the season since Eli Small in the 2024 opener, also a pinch hit blast.
- He is the second Wildcat this season to homer in his first game as a Wildcat (Cole Hage at Lipscomb).
ON DECK
Kentucky will seek a sweep on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET/1 CT. There will be live radio on the UK Sports Network, UKathletics.com and 98.5 FM (Lexington). There is no livestream available for this weekend’s series.
