May 12, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Coming off a walk-off win over Auburn in the home finale last weekend, Kentucky will conclude its non-conference schedule, traveling to Paducah, Ky., to face host Murray State, with first pitch at Brooks Stadium slated for 7 p.m. ET.
The game will be broadcast live on the UK IMG Radio Network, with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price, calling the action. Fans in Central Kentucky can hear the game live on WLAP 630-AM, in Louisville on WKJK 1080-AM and online at UKathletics.com.
The Kentucky baseball team concluded its home schedule with a series win over Auburn last weekend, picking up a 6-3 win in the opener, falling 8-1 in the middle game, and claiming a 6-5 10-inning win in the finale. UK will conclude the regular season with a four-game road swing, traveling to Paducah, Ky., to face host Murray State, before concluding the Southeastern Conference slate at Georgia, starting Thursday.
Kentucky (30-20) rode a strong performance from A.J. Reed in the series opener on Friday vs. Auburn, with Reed extending his NCAA lead in homers (21) and his SEC lead in wins (nine). Reed worked eight innings and belted a homer, as the Wildcats rallied to post a three-run win, while battling a rain delay. In the middle game, Auburn took an early lead and used a strong pitching performance from senior Dillon Ortman, who tied Reed for the SEC lead with his ninth win of the year. UK then went down 5-0 after five innings in the rubber match, before a four-run sixth brought UK in striking distance and Austin Cousino tied the game in the eighth with his fourth homer. UK won the game in the 10th inning on Ka’ai Tom’s two-out single, scoring JaVon Shelby.
The Wildcats will travel to face home team Murray State on Tuesday at Paducah’s Brooks Stadium, marking the fourth time in the last eight years UK has played Murray State in Paducah. UK traveled to Paducah for the first time in 2007, with the game rained out. UK then played at Murray State in Brooks Stadium in 2008, 2010 and most recently in 2012.
The Wildcats have been led in 2014 by Reed, who leads college baseball in homers (21), slugging (.778) and OPS (1.269), also leading the SEC in wins (nine), RBI (63), walks (39) and on-base percentage (.491). Reed has hit .350 – fourth-best in the SEC – and has added 12 doubles and one triple. In SEC play, Reed has 13 homers and 30 RBI, with all 21 of his homers coming on the weekends. On the mound, Reed is 9-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 90 innings, allowing 80 hits, walking 25 and striking out 63.
Junior first baseman Thomas Bernal has hit .337 in 2014, with eight doubles, one homer and 25 RBI, stealing five bases. Tom has hit .336 with nine doubles, one homer and 29 RBI, stealing 12 bases. Rightfielder Storm Wilson has a .321 average with five doubles, four homers and 19 RBI, with Cousino owning a .313 average with 12 doubles, three triples, four homers and 30 RBI, stealing 15 bags. Third baseman Max Kuhn has hit .309, with 13 doubles, five homers and 40 RBI. Catcher Micheal Thomas owns a .299 average with seven doubles, one triple, seven homers and 42 RBI. Shelby has hit .266 with six doubles, two triples, four homers and 19 RBI. Outfielder Kyle Barrett owns a .260 average with five doubles, one homer and 18 RBI, stealing 10 bases. Shortstop Matt Reida has hit .236 with six doubles, three homers and 28 RBI, stealing five bags.
On the mound, UK used the rotation of Reed, Chandler Shepherd (5-3, 3.88 ERA) and Dylan Dwyer (5-3, 5.24 ERA) for the first time in 2014, last weekend. Junior Andrew Nelson (1-5, 4.47 ERA) has also appeared in 14 games with 10 starts. Junior Spencer Jack (3-1, 1.42 ERA) has three saves in a team-high 23 relief appearances. Sophomores Kyle Cody (3-0, 2.93 ERA), Zach Strecker (0-1, 4.30 ERA), Ryne Combs (1-2, 6.03 ERA), Taylor Martin (0-0, 6.55 ERA), Sam Mahar (1-0, 6.59 ERA) and Matt Snyder (0-0, 8.00 ERA) have each appeared in at least nine games. Freshman Logan Salow (2-2, 4.76 ERA) has a save in 20 games.
Murray State (20-28) has hit .267 as a team in 2014, owning a .346 slugging and a .363 on-base percentage, owning 92 doubles, 10 triples, six homers and 267 runs in 48 games. The Breds own a 4.91 ERA on the mound in 427.1 innings, allowing 482 hits and 176 walks, striking out 291 and holding opponents to a .289 average. Defensively, Murray State has fielded .964, turning 35 double plays and allowing 61 steals.
The Breds have been led at the plate by Tyler Lawrence, who has hit .318 with 11 doubles and 33 RBI, owning a 24-18 walk-strikeout ratio. Anthony Bayus has hit .309 with 14 doubles, three triples, two homers and 30 RBI. Taylor Mathews has a .302 average with six doubles, two triples, one homer and 28 RBI, stealing 10 bases. Matt McGowan has a .267 average with 11 doubles, one homer and 30 RBI, with Ty Stetson hitting .265 with 12 doubles and 26 RBI.
On the mound, Murray State has been led by a team-high 20 relief outings from John Lollar (1-0, 4.50 ERA), who has two saves in 26 frames. Tyler Satlsman (2-1, 2.67 ERA) has appeared in 19 games with two saves, with Cody Maerz (2-6, 5.44 ERA) also owning 19 appearances. Andrew Bramley (1-2, 8.18 ERA) and BT Wichman (0-0, 10.24 ERA) have each appeared in double-digit games. Brock Downey (8-3, 2.74 ERA), Sheldon Baxter (2-5, 4.96 ERA) and Cameron Finch (3-7, 5.61 ERA) have each started at least 11 games.
Records
Kentucky – 30-20
Murray State – 20-28
Schedule (times Eastern and subject to change)
at Murray State * Tuesday, May 13 * 7 p.m.
Radio (UK IMG Network with Neil Price)
WLAP 630-AM in Central Kentucky
WKJK 1080-AM in Louisville
Tentative Pitching Matchups
Tuesday at Murray State
TBA vs. TBA
Internet Coverage
Live audio and stats on UKathletics.com
Stadium
Brooks Stadium (Paducah, Ky.)
