Defense Shines Again as Cats Top Norse
The Kentucky baseball team used solid pitching and outstanding defense to beat Northern Kentucky 6-1 on Tuesday night at Kentucky Proud Park.
For the fourth consecutive game, the Cats did not make an error. UK’s starting pitcher on Tuesday night, Scott Rouse, knows how important it is for the guys on the mound to trust the players behind them.
“It’s amazing. I can just throw my stuff in the zone and just trust that the guys behind me are going to make a play,” Rouse said. “And it’s a bunch of different guys, too. We’ve been through three third basemen right now. Everybody’s making plays. Outfielders are making plays, defensive subs being ready to come into the game. Everybody’s making plays.”
UK head coach Nick Mingione emphasizes to his pitching staff that it’s important to trust the defense.
“We talk to our pitchers that it’s a nine versus one mentality,” Mingione said. “You’ve got to trust them. We’ve played great defensively. Not only have we made the average plays, we’ve made the exceptional plays. For a pitcher it’s like wow, not only are we making routine plays, now we’re making the exceptional plays.”
When the pitchers are engaged and are trusting the defense, it keeps the defenders on their toes, according to the UK skipper.
“(Tyler Bell) made this comment last weekend, Cole Hage brought it up again today,” Mingione said. “Some of the guys, just their ability to trust their stuff and their tempo has been really good, and that engages your defense.”
The defense has also been aided by players taking control of particular roles on defense.
“Guys are starting to settle in, some defined roles,” Mingione said. “And guys know, when they don’t play like (Griffin Camerson) and (Shaun Montoya), they have a chance to get in the game. That part has been really good.”
Through Tuesday’s game, Kentucky is fielding .979, which would be the third-highest fielding percentage in school history. With the postseason right around the corner, the Cats seem to have found their footing on defense. Pitching and defense will be crucial in the postseason, and Kentucky is finding its defensive stride at exactly the right time.
