Kentucky Baseball Downs Northern Neighbor Ohio 9-2

The Kentucky Bat ‘Cats welcomed the Ohio Bobcats to Kentucky Proud Park for a midweek, Wednesday one-and-done matchup and took care of their neighbors from the North by a score of 9-2.

As head coach Nick Mingione alluded to following Tuesday’s win over Murray State, Wednesday was a bullpen game for his pitching staff. Kentucky’s midweek matchup against the Bobcats was just their second outing of five this week, so preserving arms was crucial before heading into a sneaky weekend series at Southern Illinois. If you had to pick a game to get everybody reps and spread out some arm usage, this would be the one.

Ohio entered Wednesday’s matchup at a lowly 2-8, fresh off a sweep by the Salukis of Southern Illinois. The Bobcat pitching staff has been extremely disappointing this season, combining for a 9.15 ERA, last in the Mid-American Conference.

Wildcats Trail Early, Quickly Overtake Lead

Junior RHP Seth Logue got the start for Kentucky, his first of the season. After starting eight games last year, he has been relegated to the bullpen to start 2023. After a quick 1-2-3 first inning, Logue found himself in some trouble in the top of the second. Logue walked the first two batters of the inning and loaded the bases after Ohio’s Sturek smacked a single to left field. With the bases loaded, 2B Billy Adams singled down the right field line, knocking in two RBI to give the Bobcats a quick 2-0 lead.

Once Ohio took a lead, the ‘Cats struck back.

In the bottom of the inning, Ohio’s Jerger walked Kentucky’s first three batters of the inning, loading the bases for RF Nolan McCarthy. McCarthy smoked a double to left center field, scoring two runs and tying the game up. After Grant Smith and Jackson Gray struck out, Jase Felker continued his hot streak. Felker singled to left field, driving in two more runs for the Kentucky offense. After his two-RBI single, Felker improved to 10-16 on the season, bringing his average to .625.

Bat ‘Cats Tack on to Lead

After both teams went scoreless over the next three and a half innings, the Wildcats tacked on to its lead with a three-run bottom of the sixth inning. Jase Felker hit another RBI single to left field to start the inning, his third RBI of the game. With Gray and Felker on base, Devin Burkes sealed this one up for the ‘Cats. Burkes, who entered Wednesday’s matchup sixth in the nation in doubles, roped his second of the day down the right-field line, scoring Gray and Felker to increase the Wildcat lead to five.

Burkes' sticktoittiveness pays off with a line double into the LF corner to score two and UK has blown it open in the 6th.

B6 | UK 7, Ohio 2 pic.twitter.com/WeNYm3Fg5N

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) March 8, 2023

Kentucky scored another two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings. Grant Smith drove a sac-fly to center field in the seventh, scoring Ryan Waldschmidt from third. In the eighth, Devin Burkes scored from third after a Ryan Waldschmidt fielder’s choice. Burkes reached base thanks to his third double of the afternoon. Burkes has been a Double Machine this season.

Up 9-2 through eight, this one was as good as over for the Bobcats.

Wildcat Bullpen Impresses

Following Logue’s exit in the top of the second, the Wildcat bullpen completely shut down the Ohio offense. The combination of RHP Austin Strickland, LHP Magdiel Cotto, RHP Ryan Hagenow, RHP Ryder Giles, RHP Christian Howe, and LHP Evan Byers allowed just three hits and no runs over eight innings.

RHP Seth Chavez entered in the top of the ninth and struck out the side to close this one out.

Final: Kentucky 9 / Ohio 2 ⚾️

Bat 'Cats improve to 11-2 on the season. pic.twitter.com/PGSwU2X32p

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) March 8, 2023

After improving to 11-2, the Wildcats prepare for its second road series of the season and first game away from home since February 17th. Kentucky travels to Carbondale, Illinois for a weekend series against 6-7 Southern Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Friday night.