March 22, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After leading No. 2 Kentucky two five wins, including a series sweep over the top-time defending NCAA Champion South Carolina Gamecocks last week, freshman two-way standout A.J. Reed has been selected to the National All-Star Lineup by the College Baseball Hall of Fame, it was announced on Thursday morning.

A native of Terre Haute, Ind., Reed has already been named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week in recognition of his prolific week. During the week, Reed batted .526 (10-for-19) with two doubles, one homer and five RBI, posting a 2-0 record on the mound with a 1.12 ERA. In a Tuesday win over 2011 NCAA Tournament team Wright State, Reed became the first player in program history to start at No. 4 in the lineup and start on the mound.

A 6-foot-4, 235-pounder, Reed struck out eight in his eight innings pitched last week, including six in a start vs. Wright State. In his start, Reed threw first-pitch strikes to the first 21 hitters he faced, adding a 3-for-4 game with three RBI at the plate.

During the weekend, Reed continued to lead UK at the plate and on the bump, batting 2-for-4 with an RBI in the series-opening 4-3 walk-off win on Friday vs. No. 2 South Carolina. On Saturday, Reed helped UK clinch the series win with a game-winning RBI double in the seventh, coming out of the bullpen and tossing two shutout innings to pick up the win. In the series finale on Sunday, Reed collected two hits to help UK to the first series sweep of USC since 2006.

In the midst of a team-best and career-long 13-game hitting streak, Reed has hit .382 (29-for-76) with seven doubles, two homers and 28 RBI in 2012. On the bump, Reed owns a 4-0 record and a 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings with 18 strikeouts.

Kentucky (22-0, 3-0 SEC) returns to action with its first league road test, traveling to face Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., with first pitch of the series lidlifter set for 6 p.m. ET on Friday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.