Fenced In: UK Pitchers Ground Indiana’s Heavy-Hitting Offense

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky scored a pair of early runs and kept the nation’s leading home run team in the ballpark, defeating Indiana 5-2 on Tuesday night at Kentucky Proud Park. It is the fourth straight win over the past three seasons against the border rival.
 
Sophomore right-hander Jimmy Ramsey bounced back from a pair of rough starts on the mound to post four effective innings out of the gate before turning the game over to the bullpen with a 2-1 lead. The 6-foot-9 Minnesota native struck out seven and didn’t walk a hitter, giving up his only run on a ball that fell in the outfield after getting lost in the early-evening setting sun.
 
Ryan Johnson continued to be a menace atop the Wildcats’ lineup, walking all four times to the plate and scoring three times. He led off the game with a walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch that also saw Ryan Shinn race home from second base as the Cats (24-24) took a lead they would never relinquish. The senior outfielder became the first Cat to work four walks in a game since T.J. Collett against South Carolina on April 6, 2018 and now owns a .565 on-base percentage in 12 games since being inserted into the starting lineup.
 
Sophomore right-hander Trip Lockhart earned his first career save by shutting down the Hoosiers over the final two innings as the Cats kept Indiana (31-17) from adding to their 81 home runs, which is tops in Division I-A baseball.
 
The Cats travel to South Carolina for a three-game series beginning Friday night in Columbia. All three games will air on the SEC Network with the opener set for 7 p.m. ET.
 
 
SCORING
Bottom 1^st – Ryan Johnson walked and Ryan Shinn was hit by a pitch. Elliott Curtis’ SAC bunt move them to second and third. Both Johnson and Shinn scored on one wild pitch, with Shinn racing home from second. UK 2, Indiana 0.
 
Top 3^rd – Justin Walker doubled to RF and scored on Drew Ashley’s two-out single the centerfielder lost in the sun. UK 2, Indiana 1.
 
Bottom 5^th – Alex Rodriguez doubled to LF and Johnson walked. Shinn reached on a fielder’s choice on SAC bunt attempt, Johnson to second, Rodriguez out at 3B. Curtis singled through the left side, scoring Johnson with Shinn moving to third. Shinn scored on throwing error by the catcher on attempted pickoff, Curtis to second. UK 4, Indiana 1.
 
Top 7^th – Elijah Dunham and Grant Richardson walked to open the inning. Jake Skrine hit a pinch hit double off the LF wall, scoring Dunham. UK 4, Indiana 2.
 
Bottom 7^th – Johnson and Curtis walked. Coltyn Kessler singled to CF, scoring Johnson. UK 5, Indiana 2.
 
 
NOTES

• Kentucky has scored in 112 consecutive games and 188 of the past 189 dating to the 2016 season. The lone shutout came in a seven-inning game. The current streak is the second-longest in school history.

• Freshman INF Austin Schultz has reached base safely in 35 of the past 37 games and in nine straight.
• Senior OF Ryan Johnson walked in all four plate appearances.
  • The four walks are the first time a UK player has drawn four free passes in a game since T.J. Collett vs. South Carolina on April 6, 2018.
  • In 12 games since being inserted into the starting lineup on April 16, Johnson is hitting .394 with a .565 on-base percentage and 1.262 OPS.

• Junior INF Elliott Curtis had an RBI single to extend his hit streak to a career-long three games.
• Sophomore RHP Jimmy Ramsey picked up the win with 4.0 scoreless innings of work.
  • He struck out seven and walked none on just 63 pitches.
• Sophomore RHP Trip Lockhart earned his first career save with two scoreless innings.

 
ON DECK
The Cats travel to South Carolina for a three-game series beginning Friday night in Columbia. All three games will be broadcast by the SEC Network with the radio call on the UK Sports Network.