Feb. 23, 2014
NORFOLK, Va. — A.J. Reed belted two home runs to give him five homers and 11 RBI on the weekend, leading No. 30 Kentucky to a 13-0 win over St. John’s in the finale of the Old Dominion Tournament, on a gorgeous Sunday morning at the Bud Metheny Complex.
A native of Terre Haute, Ind., Reed became the first player in the modern-era history of the program (2003-present) to belt five home runs in a three-game span. On Friday, Reed set a new program mark with two homers in one inning, and then belted a game-tying homer in a three-hit game on Saturday at ODU. Sunday, Reed smashed homers in the second and fifth innings. His performance marked the first player to homer in three consecutive games since Ryan Wilkes hit a home run in each game of a 2008 series with Alabama.
On the year, Reed has hit .433 (13-for-30) with three doubles, six homers and 17 RBI, slugging 1.172. On the mound, Reed worked seven, one-run innings on Friday for his second win, owning a 1.50 ERA in his first two starts.
Kentucky’s offensive attack finished with 34 runs in the three-game span over the weekend, posting wins over St. Joseph’s (16-2), Old Dominion (7-5) and St. John’s.
Kentucky (5-2) starter Kyle Cody (1-0) picked up his first win of the year in his fifth quality start of his career. A 6-foot-7, 245-pounder, Cody worked six shutout innings, allowing six singles, with three going as infield singles, not issuing a walk and striking out one.
UK freshman Logan Salow took over in the seventh inning, issuing a walk in a clean inning. Junior righty Spencer Jack worked the eighth inning with just a hit batter allowed. Sophomore Matt Snyder worked the ninth inning.
UK was led at the plate by Reed, who went 2-for-5, UK also got hits from Kyle Barrett, Austin Cousino, Max Kuhn, Ka’ai Tom, Micheal Thomas, Matt Reida and Storm Wilson, with Connor Heady drawing two walks.
St. John’s (1-5) starter Ryan McCormick (0-1) worked five innings, allowing five hits and five runs, walking three and striking out three. Mike Sheppard III, Matt Hennie, Matt Clancy, Shawn Heide and Thomas Hackimer worked in relief for the Johnnies.
UK will return to action on Tuesday with its home opener vs. Wright State at 4 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the UK IMG Radio Network, with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price, calling the action.
Kentucky got on the board in the top of the second inning, as Reed smashed the first pitch of the inning over the rightfield fence for his fifth home run of the year and his fourth of the weekend. Tom then drew a walk and Thomas followed with a single up the middle. After the 25th sacrifice bunt of Reida’s career, Wilson punched a two-RBI single into leftfield to give UK a 3-0 lead.
UK added to its lead in the fourth inning, as Thomas led off with a full-count walk, taking second when Wilson was hit by a two-strike pitch. Barrett then lofted a two-out single into left-centerfield to score Thomas and give UK a 4-0 lead.
Reed gave UK a 5-0 lead with a solo home run over the centerfield wall, his fifth homer of the weekend and his sixth of the year.
In the sixth inning, Reida led off with a single to rightfield, stealing second base. Heady followed with a walk to bring up Barrett. Barrett chopped a grounder to first base, with the throw trying to get Heady at second sailing in the dirt, allowing Reida to motor home from second base. Cousino then followed with a single to rightfield, scoring Heady. After Cousino stole second base, Kuhn singled to leftfield to score Heady and Cousino for a 9-0 lead. After Tom singled, Thomas chopped a grounder down the third base line, with the throw going in the dirt and allowing Kuhn and Tom to score for an 11-0 advantage.
UK added two runs in the top of the seventh inning, as Heady and Cousino drew walks and scored on a pair of wild pitches.
