Kentucky Pitching Dominates the Weekend to Earn Series Sweep

No. 22 Kentucky throttled St. John’s for the third consecutive day, sweeping the weekend series with a 3-1 victory at Kentucky Proud Park on Sunday. It capped a 4-0 week for the Wildcats as conference play draws closer.

UK (9-2) pitchers allowed just two runs (one earned) in three games, struck out 33 batters, walked only seven and allowed the Red Storm to bat just .165. Sophomore righty Nate Harris picked up the baton on Sunday and struck out a career-high nine in 6.0 innings of work, allowing just one run for the second straight time on the mound. Ira Austin IV, Leighton Harris and Burkley Bounds combined to post zeroes over the final three innings.

The pitching gave the offense enough room to operate despite scoring three runs all three games against a stingy St. John’s staff. Despite a bushel of hard hit outs, the Cats manufactured offense in their own uniquely UK way with stolen bases, moving runners over and finding the timely hit when necessary. Freshman Caeden Cloud had two more hits on Sunday, including a big RBI.

NOTES

• Kentucky is 9-2 on the season.
  • UK is 126-65 since the beginning of 2023.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 302-194 career record.
  • Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 113-45 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 178-54 in non-conference games.
    • He is 157-25 vs. non-Power Four opponents.
  • Mingione now is 3-0 vs. St. John’s.
  • Mingione is 9-0 vs. teams from New York.
• Kentucky has allowed just two runs in the series, which was unearned.
• Kentucky went 4-0 for the week.
• OF Jayce Tharnish went 1-for-3 with a walk and steal.
  • He now is 11-for-11 on stolen bases.
• IF Caeden Cloud recorded the first multiple hit of his career.
• RHP Nate Harris was strong on the mound again.
  • He completed 6.0 innings, allowing five hits and one run.
  • He struck out a career-high nine batters.
• RHP Ira Austin IV delivered a nine-pitch scoreless inning that included two strikeouts.
• RHP Burkley Bounds earned the save.

ON DECK

UK travels to Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET. The game is on ESPN+ and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network.