Daly’s Career Day Powers No. 24 Kentucky to 11-5 Win Over Texas State

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Powered by a career-high six RBI day from Mitchell Daly, No. 24 Kentucky (5-1, 0-0 SEC) recovered from its first loss of the season by defeating Texas State (3-3, 0-0 Sun Belt) 11-5 in its second game at the 2024 Karbach Round Rock Classic.

After an uncharacteristic offensive performance in the opening game of the round-robin tournament, the Wildcat offense responded in a major way, turning in a season-high run output that saw the Cats score multiple runs in three different innings. The Wildcats were also hit by a pitch seven times, a season-high, just one day after being plunked six times.

Graduate left-handed pitcher Dominic Niman earned the win on the mound, allowing four runs over five innings of work. He is now 2-0 on the season. The Wildcat bullpen was strong in relief as Ryan Hagenow, Evan Byers, and Colby Frieda combined to toss the final four innings of the contest, only allowing one unearned run.

Kentucky opened the scoring for the second game in a row, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. After the Bobcats issued back-to-back walks to open the inning, redshirt-junior Devin Burkes delivered an RBI single to give his team a lead they would never relinquish. Two batters later, redshirt-freshman Lukas Schramm followed with two RBI double to give Kentucky a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

Texas State got one back on a solo home run in the top of the second, but the Cats would respond brilliantly, scoring five in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-1 lead. After a leadoff single from redshirt-junior Nolan McCarthy, senior Grant Smith drove him in with an RBI double to the wall. Later in the frame, the Cats would load the bases with two outs, allowing Daly to blast a grand slam to left field, his first long ball as a Wildcat.

Texas State would scratch across three runs in the fourth inning, as a two-out fly ball was lost in the sun, allowing a pair to score. The Bobcats would score once more in the frame with an RBI single, bringing the score to 8-4.

In the sixth, Daly would drive in two more, as he laced an RBI single to right field that allowed two Wildcats to cross home. In the eighth, an RBI walk allowed another Kentucky run to score, bringing the Wildcat tally to 11. Texas State would score one more run in the ninth, as a dropped fly ball in right field extended the game and allowed a Bobcat to cross home on an RBI groundout.

NOTES

• Kentucky is now 4-1 in 2024.
  • The Wildcats are 1-1 in the Karbach Round Rock Classic.
  • Kentucky is 1-0 following a loss.
  • Kentucky is now 1-0 all time vs. Texas State.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his eighth season at the helm and now owns a 221-151 career record.
  • Mingione needs 37 victories to become the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 41-17 in the month of February under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 138-41 in non-conference games overall.
• Kentucky scored 11 runs, tying a season high set on opening day at USC Upstate.
• The Wildcats were hit by a pitch seven times, a season high.
  • After six HBP on Friday, Kentucky batters have been hit by 13 pitches in the 2024 Karbach Round Rock Classic.
• Senior Mitchell Daly recorded a career-high six RBI and tied a career high with 3 hits.
  • The Texas transfer went 3-for-4 with a home run and a pair of singles.
  • His second-inning grand slam was his first homerun as a Wildcat and was the first grand slam for the program since March 28, 2023.
  • He was also hit by a pitch and stole a base.
  • His three-hit performance ties a season-high for the team, matching Nick Lopez’s mark from opening day.
  • Daly’s six RBI are the most in a game since Ryan Ritter in 2021 (Louisville).
• Junior Émilien Pitre recorded his second-multi hit game of the season.
  • It was his 18th multi-hit game of his career.
• Redshirt-junior Devin Burkes scored a season-high three runs.
  • He was 1-for-2 on the day with an RBI, two walks, and a hit by pitch.
  • His three run output ties his career-high and ties Pitre for the most in a single game this season.
• Redshirt-freshman Lukas Schramm set a career-high with two RBI with a two-run double.
  • Schramm also registered an outfield assist when he threw a runner out at third base from right field.
• Junior Patrick Herrera set a career-high with two runs scored.
• Graduate Dominic Niman won his second game in as many starts on the mound.
  • He is now 2-0 on the year with a 3.60 ERA.
• Junior Ryan Waldschmidt made his first start of the season, batting leadoff as the designated hitter.
  • Despite going 0-for-1 on the day, Waldschmidt reached base four times.
  • He was hit by a pitch twice and walked twice.
  • Waldschmidt was also 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts.

ON DECK

Kentucky will close out its stay in the Karbach Round Rock Classic on Sunday, February 25, taking on Kansas at 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT).  The game will be streamed on D1Baseball.com, where a subscription is required.  Audio coverage will be provided by the UK Sports Network on UKathletics.com and 98.5 FM (Lexington) with Dick Gabriel on the call.