Mmm Bop! Hansen, Cleaver Make Hit Music in Kentucky Victory

Ben Cleaver had a perfect game through 5.2 innings on his way to 7.1 scoreless one-hit innings and Carson Hansen drove in three runs to headline No. 23 Kentucky’s 6-1 victory over Hofstra to clinch the three-game series at Kentucky Proud Park.

A day after gusty winds blew out to left field, a stiff wind mostly turned 180 degrees and held up anything in the air most of the afternoon. Cleaver used it to his advantage, utilizing his defense during an economical outing that was completely different than his 11-strikeout outing a week prior. Cleaver blew through five innings and was perfect through 5.2 until Tyler Cox bounced a ball up the middle but that’s as far as he advanced and no other Pride hitter reached base until Cleaver walked the final batter he faced.

Meanwhile, Hansen had no such issues with the wind. He served an RBI single to right-center in the first inning and clobbered a 400-foot two-run home run to right field in the sixth. The blast came with two strikes after Cole Hage had singled with two strikes and stolen second base.

UK (8-1) Won its seventh straight and will go for a sweep on Sunday afternoon.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 8-1 on the season and has won seven straight games.
• UK has 94 wins since the beginning of the 2023 season (94-38).
• UK has scored 66 total runs the past six games (11.0/game)
• UK is 12-for-12 on stolen base attempts in the series, six each game.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 270-167 career record.
  • Mingione now is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 103-37 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 159-46 in non-conference games overall and 139-20 vs. non-Power Four opponents.
  • Mingione now is 2-0 vs. Hofstra.
• UK has outscored its opponents 79-20 on the season.
• Sophomore LHP Ben Cleaver was virtually unhittable.
  • His final line: 7.1 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
  • He allowed two baserunners and he did not allow either to advance past first base.
  • He threw just 83 total pitches, 59 strikes.
  • He had a perfect game through 5.2 innings before a single through the middle on an 0-2 count.
  • In his past two starts: 13.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 14 K, three total baserunners, none past first base.
• Junior OF Carson Hansen went 2-for-4 with a run, three RBI and a home run.
  • He had a first-inning RBI single and two-run homer in the sixth, his third of the young season.
• Senior OF Cole Hage went 1-for-2 with two runs, two walks and two stolen bases.
  • He owns a robust .692 OBP through nine games.
• Senior OF Shaun Montoya went 1-for-4 with a run, an RBI and three stolen bases.
  • He stole both second and third base in the first inning.

 ON DECK

Kentucky goes for the series sweep at Kentucky Proud Park on Sunday against Hofstra at noon ET. The game will be streamed on SECN+ and radio will be carried by the UK Sports Network.