Commonwealth’s Finest Lead Kentucky Victory on the Mound

No. 23 Kentucky scored six first inning runs and saw a quartet of pitchers from the Commonwealth deliver 7.1 scoreless innings as it won its fifth consecutive game on Wednesday, 8-2 over Morehead State.

The game was originally slated for February 18 but was postponed a week due to inclement weather.

UK (6-1) sent true freshman lefty Leighton Harris to the hill for his collegiate debut and he didn’t miss the opportunity to make his mark. The Lexington native who grew up going to various Wildcats sporting events, delivered 4.0 scoreless innings, striking out four. His performance was bookended by fellow true freshmen Zak Spurrier (Elizabethtown) and Logan Grubb (Lawrenceburg) striking out five of the six batters they faced in the seventh and ninth innings.

For the second straight night, UK exploded out of the gate, scoring 13 total runs in the first inning over the two games. The Morehead State starting pitcher did not an out and allowed six earned runs.

UK continues its home week with three against Hofstra at Kentucky Proud Park this weekend, beginning on Friday afternoon.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 6-1 on the season.
• UK has 92 wins since the beginning of the 2023 season (92-38).
• UK has scored 13 first inning runs over the last two games.
• UK has scored 53 total runs the past four games (13.3/game)
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 268-167 career record.
  • Mingione now is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 52-18 in the month of February under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 157-46 in non-conference games overall and 137-20 vs. non-Power Five opponents.
  • Mingione now is 6-0 vs. Morehead State.
• UK has outscored its opponents 67-14 on the season.
• Pitchers from that state of Kentucky tossed 7.1 scoreless innings, including 6.0 by true freshmen.
• Freshman INF Tyler Bell went 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and a double.
  • He has four consecutive multi-hit games and leads the team in that department.
  • He leads the team with four doubles.
• Senior OF Shaun Montoya went 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, a HBP and a double.
• Freshman LHP Leighton Harris made his collegiate debut and earned the win.
  • Harris tossed 4.0 scoreless innings.
• RHP Zak Spurrier and LHP Logan Grubb also each made their debut.
  • Each had a scoreless inning and combined for five strikeouts.
  • Grubb struck out all three batters he faced.

 ON DECK

Kentucky returns to Kentucky Proud Park this weekend for a series against Hofstra. The games will be streamed on SECN+ and radio will be carried by the UK Sports Network. Friday’s first pitch will be 4 p.m. ET.