Oct. 23, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Home runs from junior infielders Paul McConkey and Matt Reida and a dominating two-inning stint on the mound for junior right-hander Trevor Gott highlighted a five-inning fall scrimmage for Kentucky, on a picture perfect Tuesday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
McConkey and Reida hit homers to the same spot in right-centerfield in the fifth inning of the scrimmage, lifting the Blue advantage to 4-0 for the final margin. Blue also got hits from junior outfielder Lucas Witt, sophomore centerfielder Austin Cousino and freshman outfielder Dorian Hairston.
Witt tallied the first-inning run for Blue after singling, taking second on a Corey Littrell balk and scoring on a throwing error. McConkey started the final frame with a leadoff solo homer to right-centerfield and Hairston doubled down the rightfield line. Reida then sent a laser over the right-centerfield fence for a two-run homer for the final margin.
On the mound, Blue started freshman southpaw Dylan Dwyer, who allowed only one hit and one walk in two innings, striking out one. Freshman 6-foot-8 right-hander Matt Pope hurled a perfect inning with two strikeouts and Gott closed the game out with two shutout innings, walking one and striking out two.
At the plate for Black, Zac Zellers singled and stole second. Thomas Bernal drew a walk and got hit by a pitch and sophomore outfielder Jeff Boehm added a walk in the first inning.
Black started Littrell, who worked two innings, allowing the one unearned run, striking out one and allowing just the hit to Witt. Boehm tossed the third inning without any damage and two strikeouts and Chandler Shepherd finished off the final two innings, allowing the homers to McConkey and Reida in the fifth, before striking out the next three hitters to end the scrimmage.
Kentucky will resume its three-game week with an eight-inning scrimmage on Friday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium with first pitch slated for 2:05 p.m. ET.
