2018 KENTUCKY BASEBALL WEEK NINE IN REVIEW

 
OVERALL RECORD: 25-11 (7-8 SEC)
WEEK RECORD: 3-1
 
LAST WEEK
Apr. 11 – Win, 7-5, at Western Carolina
Apr. 13 – Win, 6-4 (11 innings), at #18 Georgia
Apr. 14 – Loss, 7-9, at #18 Georgia
Apr. 15 – Win, 1-0, at #18 Georgia
 
THIS WEEK
Apr. 17 – at Louisville (6 p.m.; Louisville; ACC Network)
Apr. 19 – vs. #1 Florida (7 p.m.; Lexington; SEC Network)
Apr. 20 – vs. #1 Florida (7:30 p.m.; Lexington; SEC Network)
Apr. 21 – vs. #1 Florida (1 p.m.; Lexington; SECN+)

 
TEAM NOTES

• The offense has …
  • Has homered in 30 of 36 games this season.
  • Has 21 innings this season scoring at least four runs.
  • Racked up 143 extra-base hits
  • Hit .312 as a team this season
  • Slugged .527 as a team
  • Has seven lineup regulars hitting over .300
  • Team on-base percentage of .422
  • Nine of 11 players with at least 10 starts have OBPs over .400
  • Seven players have drawn at least 18 walks.
  • Stolen 39 bases
  • Have scored double-digit runs 14 times.
  • Had nine different players knock in two or three runs this week.

• The pitching staff …

• Did not allow a hit after the fourth inning of game one at No. 18 Georgia, allowing the Cats to rally from a 4-0 deficit.
• Did not allow a run over the final 13 innings of the Georgia series.
• Has struck out more than a batter per inning for the season.
• Saw the bullpen go 3-0 with two saves in four games this week.

 
 
 
PLAYER NOTES
PITCHER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE
Sophomore RHP Chris Machamer…

• Machamer continued his brilliance in the month of April by going 1-0 with two saves while not allowing a run in 5.1 innings this week.
• In a critical weekend series at No. 18 Georgia Machamer…
  • Earned the win in Friday night’s series-opening 6-4 comeback win in 11 innings.
  • Machamer entered in the ninth inning and allowed just one hit while striking out five in 3.0 innings of work, blowing away the Bulldogs with mid-90s heat.
  • In Saturday’s second game Machamer entered 24 hours later and slammed the door closed on a 1-0 victory that gave UK its third series win over a ranked team this season and third road series win vs. a ranked SEC team during coach Nick Mingione’s two seasons.
  • Machamer entered with two on and two out in the eighth and recorded a strikeout. He induced two infield popups and a comebacker to complete the shutout and earn his sixth save of the season.
• In UK’s last 10 games, Machamer has gone 1-0 with six saves in seven appearances.
  • Machamer is now riding a 13.1 scoreless inning streak, with three hits allowed and 14 strikeouts in those seven appearances.

• Junior OF Tristan Pompey…

• Pompey has reached base safely in 64 of the past 67 games and eight straight.
• Has 10 multi-hit games this season and 44 for his career.
  • For the week he drew five walks, hit .400 and posted an OBP of .600.
  • This season, Kentucky is 17-5 when Pompey has at least one hit and 2-6 in games he doesn’t, proving how important he is to the Cats’ success.

• Senior C/1B Troy Squires

  • Now has 33 sacrifice bunts for his career, which ranks second on UK’s all-time career list. He is just seven behind Ryan Wilkes (2005-08).
  • His 12 sacrifices this season ranks sixth on the single-season list. Squires also ranks fourth on that list from the 2017 season with 13 sacrifices.

• Senior INF Luke Becker …

  • Becker’s streak of consecutive games reached safely ended at 35 on Saturday. Counting his summer league games he reached in 79 straight games.
  • Becker has 11 multi-hit games this season and 38 for his career.

• Junior OF Ben Aklinski …

  • Had the game-tying, two-out, two-run single in UK’s game one extra-inning win over Georgia.
  • He has 13 multi-hit games this season and 13 for his career.
  • Aklinski has reached base safely in 15 straight games.

• Junior INF Trey Dawson …

  • On Friday vs Georgia, Dawson smoked a two-run, game-winning double in the 11^th inning to win game one.

• Junior RHP Sean Hjelle ….

  • On Friday vs. Georgia he got a non-decision in his 8.0 innings of work. He gave up a pair of two-run home runs early but did recovered to retire 10 straight.
  • In his last four starts he has pitched 29.1 innings, struck out 25 and not walked a batter.

• Junior RHP Justin Lewis ….

  • On Saturday vs. Georgia he pitched 6.0 shutout innings in getting a no-decision.
  • In his last four starts he is 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA while pitching 23.1 innings. He’s allowed just 16 hits and struck out 29.