Harper Elevates Performance in UK Baseball's Tuesday Win

After playing two seven-inning games against Auburn on Sunday, the Kentucky baseball team was hoping to get a good start from freshman Daniel Harper in Tuesday’s game against Miami (Ohio).

Mission accomplished. Harper, making the sixth start of his UK career, pitched a career-high six innings, giving up no runs and just three hits in Kentucky’s 13-7 win over Miami on Tuesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

“The last time he threw at home, our challenge to him was ‘hey, you’re throwing strikes, but you’re not throwing quality strikes’,” said Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione. “You’ve got to bring your stuff down. He’s throwing strikes, but when you bring his stuff down eight to 12 inches, it’s a totally different outing. So what happened? Six shutout innings and the longest outing of his career.”

Harper, who earned his second win of the season, retired the first 11 batters he faced in the game before walking a batter in the top of the fourth inning. The right-hander did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. In total, he struck out six while walking only one.

The Fairway, Kansas, native was pleased with his effort on Tuesday.

“I was filling up the zone,” Harper said. “Each start has been progressively getting better and this one was probably my best yet.”

Harper stuck to the game plan that pitching coach Jimmy Belanger laid out for him on Monday.

“Coach Belanger told me yesterday ‘I want you to go six shutout’, and that’s exactly what I did,” Harper said. “He challenged me with it, I completed it.”

Harper’s teammates also applauded his effort on Tuesday.

“It was huge, he’s been learning all season,” said second baseman Luke Becker. “He was filling up the bottom of the zone, that’s what he did today. His stuff is good when it’s down there. He’s learning, he’s a really smart kid.”

Harper entered Tuesday’s game with a 1-1 record and an 8.50 ERA, although that number is deceiving. Harper was forced to start a game at Arkansas, a team ranked in the top five in the nation, due to an injury to Zack Thompson. And Harper went just two-thirds of an inning in that start, giving up five earned runs before exiting. After Tuesday’s effort, Harper’s ERA dropped to 6.38.

Mingione knows that Harper’s effort on Tuesday was the next step in his development as a college pitcher.

“Sometimes, those pitches, in high school, you might be able to get away with those at times,” Mingione said. “The fact that he’s been able to take his stuff from middle of the thigh to the knees is part of his development.”

In Tuesday’s win, Harper showed what he can do when he executes his game plan and keeps the ball down. And he gave the Kentucky staff just what it needed from him in the win.