Timely Hitting Leads Cats to Win Over Toppers
The Kentucky baseball team had its chances to score against Ball State in a three-game series over the weekend. However, the Cats struggled with two outs and/or with runners in scoring position during the series against the Cardinals.
On Tuesday night at Kentucky Proud Park, the Cats once again found themselves in a tight game. But this time, when UK needed a big hit, they were able to get it, leading to a 6-5 Kentucky win.
UK head coach Nick Mingione shuffled the lineup a bit before the game and it worked on this night. Designated hitter Trae Harmon, a new face in the lineup, came up with a pair of big knocks for the Cats. Mingione was happy to see Harmon take advantage of his opportunity.
“He has awesome at-bats. He’s had as good of at-bats as anybody,” Mingione said. “Today, we just decided to get another bat in the lineup. And obviously, that paid off. His quality at-bats today, he goes four-for-four on quality at-bats, gets two hits, drives in two, probably should have been more, he about took the pitcher’s glove off in the first inning. What an opportunity for him and he obviously took advantage of it.”
With the game tied in the bottom of the sixth inning, Harmon doubled to left-center field, knocking in Reuben Church to give Kentucky a 3-2 lead. The Cats would extend the lead to 5-2 later in the inning.
But after Western Kentucky tied the game in the top of the seventh, it was Harmon who did the damage for the Cats again in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs, Harmon singled up the middle, scoring John Rhodes with what proved to be the game-winning run. Those are the types of hits that were missing over the weekend, so Mingione was pleased to see Harmon come through in a scoring situation.
“We did a lot better. Give our players a lot of credit,” Mingione said. “We had a two-out RBI. I thought we did a lot better with guys in scoring position today. I thought the Trae Harmon one was big. We just battled. I like the way we battled in the box.”
Kentucky was 6 for 20 (.300) with runners on base and 4 for 13 (.308) with runners in scoring position. The Cats were 1 for 9 (.111) with two outs, but that one hit proved to be the game winner.
The Cats are now 8-2 on the young season with Georgia State coming to KPP this weekend. Kentucky hopes that the clutch hitting it displayed on Tuesday night will carry over to the weekend series against a quality Georgia State club.
