C-Howe Down! Christian Howe Eats for First Collegiate Victory

Kentucky native Christian Howe picked up the first win of his collegiate career on the mound and No. 17 Kentucky capped a nearly flawless midweek schedule with a 9-2 victory over Tennessee Tech on a warm Tuesday evening at Kentucky Proud Park.

The Wildcats improved to 34-13 on the season by scoring the game’s final nine runs. UK finished its midweek non-conference schedule at 10-1 and continue to bolster its case for the postseason.

Howe, a redshirt freshman right-hander from nearby Danville, Kentucky, struck out four in two hitless innings, dominating the Golden Eagle hitters with a diving fastball. Offensively, Jackson Gray roped his sixth triple of the season and Hunter Gilliam reached 10 home runs with an opposite field line drive to give the Cats a lead they would never relinquish.

NOTES

• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his seventh season at the helm and now owns a 210-142 career record.
  • Kentucky is 129-39 in non-conference games under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 96-46 at Kentucky Proud Park.
  • UK finishes the season 10-1 in midweek games.
  • UK is 20-3 in non-conference games this season.
  • UK is 38-36 in the month of May under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione now is 4-0 vs. Tennessee Tech.
• UK has scored in 345 of 352 games in Mingione’s tenure.
• UK is 10-9 when the opponent scores first.
• UK has 15 triples this season, its most since 2007 (22).
• UK scored six runs in the sixth inning, the 30^th time this season the Cats have scored at least four runs in an inning.
• Outfielder Jackson Gray went 2-for-5 with a run, two RBI and a triple..
  • He has reached base safely in 39 of 57 plate appearances.
  • Gray has six triples this season, tied for 6^th on UK’s single-season list, two behind the record of eight.
• Designated hitter Chase Stanke had a two-run ground rule double.
• Outfielder James McCoy went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run.
  • He also made his debut on the mound, striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
• First Baseman Hunter Gilliam went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, three walks and a stolen base.
  • He now has 10 homers on the season.
  • He leads the team with 60 RBI.
• Infielder Jase Felker went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI singles.
  • He stole his 16^th
• Pitcher Christian Howe earned his first collegiate win.
  • He struck out four in 2.0 hitless innings.
• Pitcher Colby Frieda made his first career start.
  • He walked three, allowed one run and one hit in 1.0 inning.

ON DECK

Kentucky takes its final road trip of the regular season with a short drive down I-75 to face Tennessee at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday.  The radio call will be on the UK Sports Network (630 AM WLAP, locally) and it will be streamed on SEC Network+.