Kentucky’s Chris Machamer Named SEC Pitcher of the Week
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky sophomore closer Chris Machamer was named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week for his efforts in each of the Wildcats’ three wins last week, it was announced on Monday.
The right-hander did not allow a run in 5.1 innings of work against No. 18 Georgia and Western Carolina, yielding just three hits, striking out seven and issuing an intentional walk. After recording a save in the Cats’ 7-5 win at Western Carolina he was dominant against the Bulldogs in a road series win against a club that was 17-2 at home entering the weekend.
In Friday night’s series opener, the Cats scored three runs in the ninth inning to erase a 4-1 deficit, then brought Machamer into the game. He pitched the next three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five as Trey Dawson’s two-run double in the 11th inning gave the Cats a 6-4 win.
Just 24 hours later, Machamer entered with two men on and two outs in the eighth inning and UK protecting a 1-0 lead. The sophomore fired a 93 mph fastball by a batter to end the threat with a strikeout and induced a pair of infield pop-ups to start the ninth. After allowing a double and issuing an intentional walk, Machamer enticed Georgia cleanup hitter Michael Curry to tap a pitch back to the mound to seal the 1-0 win.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder from North Canton, Ohio has been lights out over the Cats’ last 10 games, going 1-0 with six saves in seven appearances. He is currently riding a 13.1 scoreless inning streak with only three hits allowed and 14 strikeouts in those games.
Machamer has seven career saves and his six this season rank tied for 13th on UK’s single-season list. His next save would move him into a tie for seventh. He is now 4-1 with a 2.61 ERA, with 66 strikeouts in 58.2 career innings.
