Feb. 28, 2015
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Preseason All-America right-hander Kyle Cody fired seven no-hit innings, striking out a career-best nine, leading Kentucky to a 5-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha, in the first game of a doubleheader, on Saturday morning at the North Country Regional Park.
A 6-foot-7, 245-pound junior, Cody (1-1) dominated his way to a historic outing for the Wildcats. He tied his career high with seven innings, eclipsing his career-best with nine strikeouts. A third-team preseason All-America selection by Baseball America, Cody finished his outing retiring 15 consecutive hitters and reached his pitch count at 96 pitches after the seventh.
UK attempted to complete the combined no-hitter and turned to junior righty Bo Wilson in relief of Cody. Wilson allowed a single up the middle to open the eighth inning, with UK narrowly missing its fourth no-hitter in program history and the first since 1974. UK had never had a combined no-hitter.
Kentucky (5-3) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings, adding two runs in the fifth frame. UNO plated an unearned run in the eighth inning for the final margin.
UK used junior righty Bo Wilson, a transfer from the Air Force Academy, for the final two innings, allowing two hits and two walks, striking out one.
UK will return to action at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, facing off with Northeastern.
Nebraska-Omaha (5-6) starter Zach Williamsen (1-2) worked seven innings, allowing 11 hits and five runs – three earned – not issuing a walk or recording a strikeout. Robert Calvano and Corey Binger worked the final two innings for UNO in relief.
UK jumped on the board in the top of the third inning, as Heady belted the first pitch of the frame over the leftfield fence. Barrett followed with a single and Wilson laid down a bunt knock. Shelby loaded the bags with a single into shallow rightfield. Tom then smacked an opposite-field single to leftfield, scoring two runs.
The Wildcats plated two runs in the top of the fifth, starting with a Barrett single to rightfield. After a pair of fielder’s choices put Shelby at first base, Tom reached first on an error. Bernal then doubled into the right-centerfield gap, scoring Shelby and Tom for a 5-0 lead.
UNO plated an unearned run in the eighth inning on a throwing error with runners on the corners and two outs on an attempted steal.
GAME NOTES: Sophomore second baseman JaVon Shelby made his team-leading 60th consecutive start … Junior righty Kyle Cody made his team-leading 19th career start … Junior centerfielder Kyle Barrett played in his team-best 100th career game and started his club-high 84th game … Freshman first baseman Evan White has a team-long eight-game hitting streak, hitting safely in each game of his career … In his 74th career at-bat, sophomore shortstop Connor Heady belted his first career homer … Senior third baseman Thomas Bernal doubled for the third time in 2015 and the 15th time in his career … Cody tied his career high with seven innings pitched and set a new career high with nine strikeouts.
