Every Tuesday, UK Athletics recognizes outstanding performances for our student-athletes. These are the honorees for the week ending Sunday, Apr. 22:
Baseball: Austin Cousino
Freshman centerfielder Austin Cousino was key for UK during a four-game week at the plate, leading UK from the leadoff spot to its first series win over a No. 1 team in program history, taking two of three from No. 1 LSU … Cousino hit .368 (7-for-19) during the week with two home runs, two doubles, five RBI, 15 total bases, a .789 slugging percentage and swiping two bases on two steal attempts … In the midweek blowout of Cincinnati, Cousino went 2-for-4 with a home run and one RBI … Cousino batted .333 (5-for-15) during the weekend series win of LSU, with one home run, two doubles and four RBI … Cousino went 2-for-5 in game two of the weekend series, hitting his seventh home run of the year and 16th double of the year to go along with three RBI … In the rubber-match win over LSU, Cousino led Kentucky at the plate, going 3-for-5 with his league-leading 17th double of the year … On the year, Cousino has hit a team-high .351 (60-for-171) with seven home runs, a league-leading 17 doubles, .585 slugging pct. and 34 RBI.
Baseball: Luke Maile
Junior infielder/first basemen Luke Maile led UK during a four-game week at the plate, leading UK to its first series win over a No. 1 team in program history, taking two of three from No. 1 LSU … Maile hit .462 (6-for-13) during the week with two home runs, one double, five RBI, 13 total bases and a 1.000 slugging percentage … In the midweek blowout of Cincinnati, Maile went 2-for-3 with a home run and one RBI … Maile batted .400 (4-for-10) during the weekend series vs. LSU, with one home run, one double and four RBI … Maile went 2-for-3 in game two of the weekend series, drilling his 11th home run of the year to go along with three RBI … In the rubber-match win over LSU, Maile went 1-for-3 with his fourth RBI of the weekend … On the year, Maile has hit .331 (50-for-151) with 10 doubles, an SEC-leading 11 home runs and 41 RBI.
Baseball: Alex Phillips
Alex Phillips shut down LSU in two appearances out of the Kentucky bullpen, including earning a three-inning save in Kentucky’s 8-1 win on Saturday over No. 1 LSU and a 2-inning save in the rubber match on Sunday, winning the series for Kentucky … Phillips faced just 10 batters in his nine-out save on Saturday, allowing just two hits and forcing one strikeout … Phillips notched his fourth save of the year in the rubber match vs. No. 1 LSU, allowing just one run on two hits … Phillips has become a go-to reliever in the UK bullpen, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.33 ERA, four saves, 30 strikeouts and just seven walks in 38.2 innings pitched.
