Strong Pitching, Aggressive Baserunning Fuel Exhibition Win
Strong pitching, aggressive baserunning and the power of slugger T.J. Collett fueled Kentucky in a 14-1 win over Morehead State in the first of two fall exhibition games at Kentucky Proud Park on Sunday. The Wildcats also will host Xavier on Sunday, Oct. 27 to conclude the fall schedule.
The Cats sent seven of its veteran pitchers to the mound in the first test against outside competition and watched the group deliver a dominant performance. Morehead State managed just one run, which scored on a potential inning-ending fly ball that was lost in the sun in the third inning. The staff – which included left-handed starter Mason Hazelwood and righties Jimmy Ramsey, Ben Jordan, Daniel Harper, Alex Degen, Carson Coleman and Hunter Rigsby – struck out 16 hitters, allowed eight hits and walked just five in 12 innings.
UK set the tone right out of the gate by scoring four runs in the opening frame. Outfielder Cam Hill led off with a clean single and promptly stole second and third base. Catcher Coltyn Kessler delivered a two-run single in the inning, while newcomers Oraj Anu and Matt Golda each added an RBI.
Hill and fellow outfielder Jaren Shelby each had three stolen bases and outfielder Chase Bryan had two more. Shelby finished with three hits, four runs scored and three walks, while Kessler went 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBI and two walks. Collett, who entered as a pinch hitter late in the game, doubled off the right field wall in his first at bat before sending a soaring two-run home run onto the concourse beyond the visitors’ bullpen in right in the final frame.
The Cats are entering the fourth season under head coach Nick Mingione and have won 103 games during his three-year tenure. The program has seen 24 players selected in the past two Major League Baseball drafts, including a school-record 13 in 2018, and a pair of first-round selections in Evan White (2017) and Zack Thompson (2019). The program also advanced to the Super Regional for the first time in school history in 2017 and opened $49 million Kentucky Proud Park last season.
Season ticket holders can begin renewing their 2020 season tickets September 27 through their My UK Account at UKathletics.com/renew. Season ticket holders will have the option of a two-month payment plan at the time of renewal, exclusively online through their My UK Account and the renewal deadline will be October 29. New season tickets will be available for purchase beginning October 1 starting at $64 at UKbaseballtix.com. For more information on season tickets, visit UKbaseballtix.com or call the UK ticket office at (800) 928-2287 (option 4).
