March 5, 2014
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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Freshman JaVon Shelby smashed his first career home run and sophomore Dylan Dwyer worked a complete-game shutout in his third career start, leading No. 22 Kentucky to a 7-0 win over Cincinnati in the opener of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (10-2) posted the midweek win in the opener of a twinbill at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Wednesday, getting a run in the second, before plating two runs each in the third, fourth and seventh innings.
The Wildcats got a historic start from Dwyer, who worked the first complete-game shutout in a midweek game in the modern-era of the Kentucky program (2003-present). Dwyer’s complete-game shutout was the first for UK since Alex Meyer tossed a complete-game shutout vs. No. 1 Vanderbilt in 2011. It marked the first complete-game for a UK pitcher in a midweek game since Greg Dombrowski worked a complete-game and allowed one run in a 2005 win over Murray State.
In his third career start, Dwyer worked a career-long nine innings, scattering three singles and two walks and striking out a career-high eight. He threw 113 pitches, with 65 going for strikes. Dwyer, a native of Murray, Ky., retired 10 consecutive hitters from the second to sixth innings.
Kentucky senior shortstop Matt Reida had his streak of 129 consecutive games snapped after suffering a minor injury during pregame infield/outfield. It marked the end of the 12th longest starting streak in college baseball and was the first time UK had started someone other than Reida at shortstop since 2011.
The Wildcats were led at the plate by Shelby, who went 2-for-4 with a double and his first career homer. UK also got hits from Kyle Barrett, Austin Cousino, Max Kuhn, A.J. Reed and Ka’ai Tom, with Connor Heady – making his first career start at shortstop – drawing two walks. Reed and Barrett extended their hitting streaks to 14 games, with Barrett reaching base safely in 30 consecutive games.
Cincinnati (2-8) starter Connor Walsh (1-2) worked four innings, allowing three hits and five runs, walking five and striking out four. Righty Mitch Patishall worked four innings, allowing four hits and two runs, walking two and striking out six.
The doubleheader will conclude on Wednesday at 4:14 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
UK got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning, as Reed and Tom drew walks to lead off the inning, with Wilson laying down a one-out sacrifice bunt to allow a pair of runners into scoring position, with Tom motoring home on a wild pitch for the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the third inning, UK got a leadoff double from Shelby, with UK then loading the bases on a 3-1 hit by pitch from Cousino and a full-count walk from Kuhn. Reed followed with a single chopped off the first baseman’s chest, allowing Shelby to score. Tom then hit into a fielder’s choice, beating out the back end of the double play to force in Cousino with UK’s second run.
UK stretched its lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Heady drew a one-out walk. Shelby then smashed a first-pitch offering over the leftfield fence, for a two-run homer, his first career home run.
UK added two runs in the bottom of the seventh, as Cousino singled with one out, scoring on Kuhn’s RBI double off the wall in right-centerfield. After a wild pitch and an intentional walk to Reed, Tom grounded out to force in Kuhn for a 7-0 lead.
