May 12, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Freshman Brad Schaenzer earned his first career win with three shutout innings in relief and Greg Fettes launched his fifth home run of the year, leading Kentucky to a 5-1 win over Northern Kentucky in the 2015 home finale, on Tuesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (28-23) concluded its home schedule in 2015 with a 15-11 record. The Wildcats jumped out early with two runs in the first inning, adding a single run in the fifth and the two-run homer from Fettes in the eighth inning. NKU plated its run in the eighth inning, keeping UK from its fourth shutout of the year.
UK starter Andrew Nelson worked two innings on a pitch count, allowing two hits and two walks, striking out three without allowing a run. Lefty Brad Schaenzer (1-0) took over to start the third, working three shutout innings, scattering three hits without a walk, striking out a career-high tying four. Freshman Zach Pop started the sixth inning, working three innings, allowing three hits and one run, walking one and striking out one. Bo Wilson worked the ninth inning to secure the win, striking out one.
At the plate, the Wildcats got hits from nine different players, with Evan White and Storm Wilson charting UK’s only multiple-hit games. White went 2-for-3 with two walks and a double that bounced off the top of the wall in centerfield. UK also got a double from Wilson, who laid down a bunt single in the eighth. UK also got hits from Fettes, Kyle Barrett, Ka’ai Tom, JaVon Shelby, Dorian Hairston, Connor Heady and Thomas Bernal.
Northern Kentucky (17-31) starter Jake Shaw (2-4) worked into the eighth inning, allowing 11 hits and five runs in 7.1 innings, walking three and striking out one. Kevin Herren worked in relief in the eighth.
Kentucky will conclude its regular-season at Missouri, with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. on Friday in the series opener at Taylor Stadium.
NKU threatened in the first inning, as Quint Heady, the brother of UK’s Connor Heady, beat out an infield single to open the game. Cole Bauml then drew a walk and the duo moved into scoring position on David Head’s sacrifice bunt. After Nelson got a strikeout of the clean-up hitter, Nelson issued a walk to Logan Spurlin but got a lineout of Kyle Colletta to end the frame.
The Wildcats struck first for the 32nd time on the year, scoring two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first inning. Barrett singled up the middle on the first pitch of the inning and advanced to third on a double off the top of the wall in centerfield by White. Tom and Shelby each then grounded out to the right side, giving UK a 2-0 lead.
UK rallied for a run on two hits in the fifth inning, as White singled to leftfield with one out and Shelby drew a two-out walk. Hairston then singled with two outs, scoring White from second base to push UK’s lead to 3-0.
NKU got on the board in the eighth inning as Trey Ganns doubled with one out and Kyle Colletta ripped a two-out RBI double to leftfield.
UK got some insurance runs in the eighth inning, as Wilson led off with a bunt single and Fettes launched a line-drive homer over the leftfield fence, his fifth of the year and the eighth of his career.
