The Wildcats beat the visiting Ball State Cardinals 24-1 Saturday before a 26-3 outing Sunday to clinch the series. The totals in the two games included seven innings with four or more Kentucky runs scored. The offensive onslaught came after BSU earned a 10-8, 10-inning win in Friday’s series-opener.

Fifty runs combined in the last two games and 58 in the three-game series both go down as records in UK’s 105-year history.

“We’ve had a couple of good days at the plate,” UK head coach Gary Henderson said. “We did a good job swinging at strikes and knowing what we could hit. We were able to collect some extra-base hits and run the bases hard. We had a great couple of days offensively and really a great weekend.”

In two games, the Wildcats outscored their opponents 50-4, had 14 extra-base hits, and walked 13 times. UK out-hit the Cardinals 40-11 and was hit by a whopping 11 pitches. All that against just 11 strikeouts.

Needless to say, it was a productive weekend at the plate.

“I’m really pleased where we are offensively,” Henderson said. “The pitching will get better when we get into conference. We have to continue to work hard to get better on the mound and defensively.”

The Kentucky hurlers had a good weekend for themselves as well. They gave up just four runs on 11 hits and held BSU batters to a .169 batting average. Fourteen strikeouts and only two extra-base-hits allowed by the UK pitching staff quickly brought the Wildcat bats back to the plate.

The offensive explosion the last two games was led by a balanced attack from the Wildcats. Five players had at least four hits and four had at least four RBIs.

Catcher Micheal Thomas led the way for the Wildcats with 10 RBIs on four hits and a 1.571 slugging percentage. Third baseman Max Kuhn added a team-high six hits with six RBIs, six runs scored and three walks, while outfielder Marcus Carson led the team with a .833 batting average with five hits and five RBIs.

It wasn’t just the starters who had all the fun. All 13 UK batters who had at least two at-bats recorded at least two hits, while 14 of the 15 Wildcats to step to the plate reached base at least twice.

“It shows how deep our lineup is, and that our younger players want to play,” Kuhn said. “They are hungry to get an opportunity. They have worked hard in the cage and off the field. When they are getting their opportunities they are taking advantage of it.”

The strength and productivity of UK’s bench will prove to be vital as the always-competitive Southeastern Conference slate begins next weekend at Alabama. 

 “It’s great when you get a lead and are able to put some of the younger kids in,” Henderson added. “Being able to get them at bats and allow them to have success is big.”

Up next, the Wildcats will take their swinging show on the road to Bloomington, Ind., to face the 11th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers before hosting Northern Kentucky Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.