Walk This Way: Kentucky Takes Advantage of Free Bases in Win
Reuben Church reached base safely all six times he stepped to the plate and Kentucky drew 11 walks (plus four hit by pitch) as it hammered previously undefeated Morehead State 15-1 on a glorious day at Kentucky Proud Park. Kentucky (6-2) now has outscored its opponents 30-1 the past two games. In addition to Church setting a new career-high in hits, he also drove in four runs and scored three times as every UK starter had a hit in the game. Four Wildcats had multiple RBI and the Cats blew the game open with and eight-run fourth inning and later added a six-run seventh as Morehead (8-1) used 10 different pitchers. Jase Felker and Chase Stanke each drew three base on balls each. Kentucky sent seven pitchers to the mound in the game, and all seven proved to be effective. Tyler Smith got the start, and the win, for the Cats. He pitched four innings, gave up the only MSU run and struck out four. Mason Moore, Jackson Nove, Seth Logue, Seth Chavez each pitched an inning and relief. The quartet combined to give up just two hits while striking out five. Evan Byers pitched the first two-thirds of the ninth, with one strikeout, while Christian Howe came in to record the final out for the Cats. For the game, the Cats held the Eagles to that single run and just five hits, both season lows for MSU.
Cardinals Blank Eastern Kentucky in Midweek Action
The fourth-ranked University of Louisville baseball team shined in all facets on Tuesday in an 11-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville (7-1) recorded its first shutout of the season, retiring the first 14 batters of the game, allowing just three hits and issuing just one free base on the mound. Kade Grundy (1-0) was perfect through his three innings to earn the victory. Evan Webster followed with two scoreless frames followed by one shutout inning from each of Alex Galvan, Kaleb Corbett, Kayden Campbell and Tate Kuehner. Payton recorded his second three-hit game of the season to lead the UofL offense. Forbes was 2-for-2 with the two homers and a walk, scoring three times. Knapczyk also tallied a pair of hits.
Cards Shut Out Bellarmine in Home Opener
The University of Louisville softball team defeated Bellarmine 13-0 in its home opener Tuesday evening at Ulmer Stadium. With their fifth-straight win, the Cardinals improve to 11-4 on the season. In her first collegiate start in the circle, Cassie Grizzard (1-1) scattered three hits and tied a career-high with four strikeouts as she went the distance in the five-inning shutout. Junior Paige Geraghty led the Cardinals at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and a triple while tying her career high RBI total with five in the contest. In addition to Geraghty’s game-high performance, Vanessa Miller went 2-for-2 with two runs and Hess went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, a stolen base and two runs.
Otis Named ACC Softball Player of the Week
The University of Louisville’s Korbe Otis has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Player of the Week as announced today. This marks Otis’ first ACC Player of the Week nod. Otis led the Cardinal offensively on the weekend as they posted 4-1 record at UCF’s Knights Classic. The sophomore centerfielder batted .615 (8-for-13) with three doubles and a home run while earning six walks and reaching base in every game. She scored at least one run in each of the Cardinals’ five games, totaling seven runs on the weekend and produced six RBIs and two stolen bases. Additionally, she led the team with a 1.077 slugging percentage and a .750 on base percentage. In Louisville’s 15-5 win over No. 23/25 UCF, Otis went 3-for-3 with all three of her hits falling in for doubles, tying a school record for doubles in a game.
Extra-Base Hits Not Enough, Racers Fall to Kent State
Murray State baseball fell to Kent State 6-4 on Tuesday evening at Johnny Reagan Field in Murray, Kentucky. The Racers offense was powered by the extra-base hit in the contest with four of their five hits being of the extra-base variety, including home runs from Carson Garner and Dustin Mercer. On the mound, Allen Roulette impressed in his first outing of the season going 3.2 innings pitched with seven strikeouts and giving up just one earned run.
Hilltoppers Comeback Effort Falls Short Against Bellarmine
WKU Baseball dropped its first midweek game of the season against Bellarmine, 9-7, on Tuesday night at Nick Denes Field. This marks the second straight loss for the Hilltoppers after winning their first seven games of the 2023 campaign. RHP Nic Schutte got the start for the second time this season for the Hilltoppers allowing five hits and four runs while striking out one in 1.0 inning. Five relief pitchers saw action out of the bullpen, with the group combining to allow seven hits and five runs while recording 11 strikeouts in 8.0 frames. At the dish, WKU tallied 13 hits, seven walks, and was hit by five pitches with three players producing multi-hit performances. Drew Reckart led the way with a 2-for-6 outing, knocking a double and a triple, while Ty Batusich went 1-for-3 with a walk and two-RBI.
Govs challenge No. 7 Commdores, fall late
Austin Peay State University’s baseball team had nationally-ranked Vanderbilt on the ropes but could not deliver the knockout blow and dropped an 11-7 decision Tuesday at Hawkins Field. Martin, center fielder Clayton Gray, and Miller-Green – the two through four hitters in the lineup – combined for all eight of Austin Peay’s hits. Martin was 2-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored. Gray went 3-for-5 against Vanderbilt. Miller-Green had three RBI in his 3-for-4 performance. Vastine led Vanderbilt with his 2-for-4 outing that included two RBI. Pinch hitter was 1-for-2 with a two-run double in the seventh inning. Austin Peay reliever Jackie Robinson (0-1) was unable to record an out from the three batters he faced and was tagged for three unearned runs in the loss. Vanderbilt reliever Greysen Carter (1-0) picked up the win after holding the Govs to one run on two hits while working the sixth inning.