MT. PLEASANT, S.C. — Kentucky junior right-hander Alex Meyer tossed seven innings, struck out a career-high 13 and allowed only one earned run but the Wildcats couldn’t muster enough offense, as the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks posted a 3-1 win on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Ballpark at Patriots Point.
Meyer, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound junior out of Greensburg, Ind., was dominating in his first start of the season. He tossed a career-high equaling seven innings and set a new career mark with 13 punchouts. A first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by Baseball America in the preseason, Meyer walked three and allowed two runs, with only one run earned. Meyer (0-1) took the hard-luck loss, despite hurling a high-quality start.
Kentucky (0-3) couldn’t get any offense going in the game, plating one run in the fourth after senior shortstop Taylor Black led off the inning with a triple, later scoring on a wild pitch. The Wildcats were led offensively by sophomore Luke Maile, who charted two hits. UK also got hits from Thomas McCarthy and Chad Wright.
The Wildcats also used senior Nick Kennedy on the mound, who allowed one run while getting one out, while senior Mike Kaczmarek also recorded one out, coming as a strikeout. Junior Braden Kapteyn came on in relief and tossed 1.1 innings, striking out two.
Miami (Ohio) (0-2) reliever Matt Rosinski picked up the win, tossing one shutout inning in relief of senior starter Tyler Melling, who tossed six innings and allowed only two hits and one run. Sam Dawes picked up the save with two shutout innings.
Kentucky will return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Morehead State for a 2 p.m. ET matchup in Morehead, Ky. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio), with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price calling the action. Fans can hear the game live on WGVN 1580-AM in Lexington or online at UKathletic.com.
Miami struck for a run in the top of the third inning, as Brad Gschwind led off with a single up the middle, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and scoring on Jon Edginton’s RBI single.
The Wildcats answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, evening up the game at 1-1. Black led off the inning with a leadoff triple into the leftfield fence. After Wright drew a walk on four pitches, Black scored on a wild pitch.
UK had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, as Maile singled with one out. McCarthy then ripped a double into the gap and Maile, despite playing hobbled after fouling balls off both legs on Friday and Saturday, hustled around third base, attempting to score the game-tying run. In a collision at the plate, Maile was called out and Michael Williams grounded out to end the inning.
The Redhawks added an insurance run in the top of the eighth, as Ryan Curl drew a walk to lead off, moving to third base on a single through the right side by Ryan Benner on a hit-and-run. After getting one out and loading the bases with an intentional walk to set up the double play, UK’s Kaczmarek struck out cleanup hitter Bryce Redeker. UK then turned to Kapteyn, who got the inning-ending strikeout but allowed Curl to score on a wild pitch.
