No. 23 Kentucky Heads to SEC Play Off 9-2 Victory Over NIU

No. 23 Kentucky scored six runs in the first three innings and saw six pitchers hold NIU to just four hits in a 9-2 victory Tuesday night in front of 3,912 fans at Kentucky Proud Park.

Freshman pitcher Nate Harris earned his third win in as many collegiate appearances, allowing one run on two hits in a career-high 5.0 innings. Tristan Hunter, Logan Grubb, Nile Adcock, Simon Gregersen and Hayden Smith closed out the evening.

Senior catcher Devin Burkes (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 BB, SB) and junior infielder Luke Lawrence (2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, HBP) did the most damage on the offensive side, especially Burkes. The veteran is hit lasers all night and appears to be rounding into form heading into Southeastern Conference play. Senior infielder Dylan Koontz also drove in two runs as UK drew nine walks and four HBP.

The Cats now turn their attention to conference play, which begins with a trip to No. 3 Georgia this weekend. First pitch on Friday night is at 6 p.m. ET at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 13-2 on the season.
• UK has 99 wins since the beginning of the 2023 season (99-39).
• UK has been hit by a pitch 21 times in the last six games.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 275-168 career record.
  • Mingione now is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 108-38 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 164-47 in non-conference games overall and 144-21 vs. non-Power Four opponents.
  • Mingione now is 1-0 vs. NIU.
• Freshman RHP Nate Harris moved to 3-0 to start his career.
  • He pitched a career-high 5.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits, waled one and struck out two.
• Junior INF Luke Lawrence went 2-for-3 with a run, two RBI, a walk and a HBP.
• Senior C Devin Burkes went 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, two walks, a double and a stolen base.

 ON DECK

Kentucky opens SEC play at Georgia on Friday at 6 p.m. ET. It will be streamed on SECN+ and radio will be carried by the UK Sports Network.