April 8, 2014
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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Morehead State plated single runs in the first, second, fourth and sixth innings and fought through an extensive rain delay to post a 6-4 win over No. 12 Kentucky, on a rain-soaked Tuesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (22-11) dropped to 6-3 in midweek games in 2014 with the loss, as the Eagles rode a strong starting pitching performance from their 6-foot-7 left-handed starter and their right-handed closer.
The game was delayed by an hour and 32 minutes, from 7:55 p.m. ET through 9:27 p.m., with UK trailing 4-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning at the time of the delay. UK rallied after the delay with three runs, with MSU getting a two-run homer in the seventh inning for the eventual difference. The win marked the first for the Eagles over Kentucky since 2007, when both teams also sat through an extensive rain delay in a game that ended after midnight.
UK starter Ryne Combs (1-2) worked over three innings, allowing five hits and three runs – two earned – striking out one in the loss. Freshman Logan Salow took over with a runner on third and no outs in the fourth, getting two strikeouts, before allowing a two-out RBI single. Salow worked three innings, allowing three hits and one run, not issuing a walk and striking out three. Kyle Cody took over to start the seventh, allowing three hits and two runs, walking one and striking out two. Freshman Zack Brown worked the ninth inning.
Morehead State (16-16) starter Luke Schneider (2-2) worked 5.1 dominating innings, allowing two hits and one run, walking two and striking out five. After Schneider came back out after the delay and allowed a run in the sixth, MSU closer Craig Pearcy took over, working out of the jam with the final two outs of the sixth. Pearcy tossed the final 3.2 innings to pick up his team-high sixth save of the year.
The Wildcats collected five hits in the game, including a one-out double in the fifth inning from Thomas Bernal to break up the no hitter. UK got singles from Max Kuhn, A.J. Reed and Micheal Thomas, with Kentucky also getting walks from Kuhn and JaVon Shelby. Freshman Storm Wilson belted a one-out, solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, his first career homer.
UK will return to action with a three-game weekend series with Missouri, starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Morehead State scored in the first inning to open up the game, as Robby Spencer led off with a single through the right side. After a passed ball moved him to second and a fly ball pushed him to third with one out, Brandon Rawe grounded out to shortstop to score Spencer.
The Eagles added to their lead in the top of the second inning, as Jeff Brikofer smashed a one-out single up the middle and Jimmy Wright pulled a single down the rightfield line, putting runners on first and third. Blaine Tanner then laid down a bunt, with it rolling down the line and the UK defense allowing it to go as a bunt single, scoring Birkofer.
Morehead State chased Combs from the game in the top of the fourth inning, as Burns doubled down the rightfield line, taking third on a wild pitch. UK then turned to Salow in relief, with the lefty striking out back-to-back hitters with the infield in. Tanner then singled to rightfield to score Burns and make it 3-0, Morehead State.
The Eagles rallied in the top of the sixth inning, as Chris Robinson doubled down the rightfield line, taking third after it was bobbled for an error in rightfield. With the infield playing in, Burns then blooped a single off the infield dirt and into the outfield to score Robinson.
The Wildcats got on the board after the delay, as Cousino was hit by a 0-1 pitch to lead off and Kuhn followed with a full-count single. Reed then forced in Cousino with an RBI fielder’s choice.
The Eagles immediately responded off Cody in the seventh, as No. 9 hitter Ryan Kent was hit by a 0-2 pitch. Robby Spencer then hit a two-run homer over the leftfield fence, his second of the year.
Kentucky got back on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning as Kuhn popped up with one out, with the ball popping out of the glove for a two-base error. Reed then doubled into the left-centerfield gap on a 0-2 pitch, scoring Kuhn from second base. Thomas then hit a fly ball that bounced off the rightfielder’s glove for an error, with Tom scoring Reed with a bang-bang play on a grounder to first.
