Pitching Dominates in No. 23 Kentucky’s Victory

NASHVILLE – The temperature was frigid but the same could not be said for the pitching as No. 23 Kentucky outlasted Belmont, 2-1, in a dominating mound effort on an evening when offense was at a premium.

Starter Nic McCay and relievers Jackson Nove and Simon Gregersen put on a clinic at E.S. Rose Park, combining for 14 strikeouts, no walks and just two hits allowed. Nove was especially effective, striking out six straight after a lost ball in the lights provided the only base runner against him. McCay was nearly as untouchable, striking out seven in 6.0 two-hit innings. The only blemish on his line was a single run in the first inning after a sun-aided triple and passed ball led to a Bruins run.

Although UK (2-1) had its own challenges scoring it did scratch across single tallies in the first and sixth innings, including Patrick Herrera’s full count, two-out go-ahead single that proved the difference. Luke Lawrence scored both of the Cats’ runs and his speed on the bases – he had two stolen bases – led to each one.

The victory came after the disjointed nature of opening week. UK both saw its first series and home opener affected by inclement weather and had not been able to practice outside due to snow and freezing temperatures since before its season opener.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 2-1 on the season.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 264-167 career record.
  • Mingione now is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 48-18 in the month of February under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 153-46 in non-conference games overall and 133-20 vs. non-Power Five opponents.
  • Mingione now is 1-0 vs. Belmont.
• UK’s pitchers have held opponents scoreless in 22 of 24 innings this season.
  • On Friday, UK’s pitchers struck out 14 and did not walk a batter.
• Senior Nic McCay earned his second victory in as many starts.
  • He pitched 6.0 innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits.
  • He struck out seven and walked none.
  • For the season: 11.0 IP, 4 hits, 0 earned runs, 11 strikeouts.
• Senior Jackson Nove struck out six two hitless innings.
  • He has 11 strikeouts in 5.0 innings in 2025.
• Senior Simon Gregersen earned his first save as a Wildcat.
• Junior Luke Lawrence went 0-for-2 with two runs, two walks and two stolen bases.
• Senior Patrick Herrera went 1-for-4 with the game-winning RBI single.
• Freshman Tyler Bell had his first collegiate hit.

 ON DECK

Kentucky continues its series at Belmont on Saturday, February 22 at 2 p.m. ET/1 CT. There will be live radio on the UK Sports Network, UKathletics.com and 98.5 FM (Lexington). There is no livestream available for this weekend’s series.