Kentucky cruises to 12-0 win over Belmont to take weekend series

Kentucky completely dominated Belmont on Saturday, as the Wildcats took down the Bruins 12-0 to win their first weekend series of the season.

After totaling just six hits and three runs in their previous 18 innings of play, the Kentucky lineup compiled eight hits (four XBH) and 12 runs on Saturday. Six Wildcat batters totaled at least one RBI, while freshman shortstop Tyler Bell and Milwaukee transfer Carson Hansen led the way with four apiece. Bell belted his first career home run and Hansen knocked his first home run as a Wildcat in the win.

Along with a resurgent offense, Kentucky’s pitching staff continued to dominate opposing batters. The Bruin offense had absolutely nothing for left-hander Ben Cleaver, who experienced the best outing of his young career. In six innings, Cleaver allowed just one hit while striking out a career-high 11 batters.

Kentucky notches its first series victory of the season and will look to finish off the series sweep of Belmont on Sunday.

Players of the Game:

• LHP Ben Cleaver: Cleaver enjoyed the longest outing of his career against Belmont. He struck out 11 batters and allowed just one hit in six innings of work.
• SS Tyler Bell: The young freshman experienced the best game of his young career, going 2-3 at the plate with a three-run home run and four RBI overall.
• PH Carson Hansen: The Milwaukee transfer belted a grand slam in his first at-bat at Kentucky in the seventh inning.

Kentucky’s offense resurges on Saturday

Kentucky entered the second game of the series having totaled just six hits in its last 18 innings of play, so the Wildcat offense desperately needed to get going on Saturday. It did just that early against the Bruins.

After a scoreless first inning, Tyler Bell was hit by a pitch to open the second frame. The speedy freshman stole second and advanced to third on an error, putting first baseman Dylan Koontz in a good position to give Kentucky its first run of the game. Koontz delivered with an RBI ground-out, allowing Bell to trot home for his second scored run of the season.

Following the one-run second inning, Kentucky put up three more runs in the third inning. Memphis transfer center fielder Will Marcy, who was hitless in his first 10 at-bats as a Wildcat, led off the frame with a triple. He scored on an RBI sac-fly courtesy of Luke Lawrence, signaling that the bats had seemingly shook the dust off.

Lawrence’s sac-fly was followed by a Shaun Montoya single and a Cole Hage hit by pitch, putting runners on first and second for Patrick Herrera. Herrera, who had totaled four RBI through Kentucky’s first three games, came through once again. The third baseman singled, bringing in Montoya from second for his team-leading fifth RBI of the season. The inning was capped off by Tyler Bell‘s first career RBI, an infield single which allowed Hage to score from third.

Devin Burkes knocks first Big Blue Bomb of the season

It had been a rough start to the 2025 season for All-SEC Preseason First Team catcher Devin Burkes, who was 0-8 in his first eight at-bats.

Burkes has spent two of his prior three seasons at Kentucky as the Wildcats’ starting catcher. In 472 career at-bats entering Saturday’s game, the Bradenton, FL native boasted a career .271 batting average with 36 doubles, 15 home runs, and 98 RBI.

Although he played in 60 of Kentucky’s 62 games in 2024, Burkes didn’t quite have the season he would’ve wanted offensively. His batting average dropped from .291 (2023) to .239 and he went just 4-32 (.111) at the plate over the final nine games of the season.

Burkes however made a statement to open the fourth inning on Saturday, as he roped a solo home run over the right center field fence for his first Big Blue Bomb since April 21. The fourth year Wildcat is now up to 16 career home runs. His solo shot gave Kentucky a 5-0 advantage.

Don’t look now but @Devin_Burkes opposite field juice is back! pic.twitter.com/almE3x8Gby

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) February 22, 2025

Tyler Bell knocks first career home run

Burkes’ solo home run in the fourth gave Kentucky a comfortable five run lead, but Tyler Bell‘s first career home run in the fifth inning put the nail in the coffin of the Belmont Bruins.

Belmont’s pitching staff struggled with accuracy all day, but especially struggled in the fifth. Cole Hage was walked and Patrick Herrera was hit by a pitch to open the frame, putting two on with no outs for the freshman Bell. On a 3-1 count, the sixth best freshman in the SEC (according to D1Baseball) belted a three-run home run, giving Kentucky an 8-0 lead. Bell’s first career long ball traveled 431 feet.

The Frankfort, IL native was drafted with the 66th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, but decided to turn down the pros and will be a Kentucky Wildcat until at least 2026, when he is eligible to be selected again.

Bell was just 1-10 in his first career at-bats, but dominated at the plate on Saturday. In three at-bats, he walked, drove in a run on an RBI-single, and belted a three-run home run.

Ben Cleaver enjoys career best outing

Expectations were high last season for freshman left-handed pitcher Ben Cleaver, who was tabbed to open 2024 as Kentucky’s mid-week starter. He could not due to lingering injuries, but still saw 6 1/3 innings of action in relief.

Cleaver pitched to a 4.26 ERA with 11 strikeouts and three walks, and was a hero in Kentucky’s win over Florida on May 12, 2024. Nick Mingione was extremely high on Cleaver heading into this season.

“Ben Cleaver has been our guy that if you asked ‘Coach Minge, what returning pitcher’s made the biggest jump?’ I’d tell you it’s been Ben Cleaver,” Mingione said. “He’s throwing the ball as well as anybody right now. Three and four pitches for a strike so I’m excited to see what he brings.”

The Thompsons Station, TN native made his first career start last Friday against Lipscomb, where he allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out five batters in 3 2/3 innings. He made his second career start on Saturday against Belmont and enjoyed the best outing of his young career.

Cleaver went six innings, where he allowed just one hit while striking out a career-high 11 batters. He retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced.

Wildcats cap off series victory

Kentucky was held scoreless in the sixth inning for the first time since the opening frame, but surpassed the 10-run mark in the seventh to cut this game short.

The bases were quickly loaded by the Belmont pitching staff, as Tyler Bell reached first on a throwing error, Dylan Koontz was hit by a pitch, and Devin Burkes drew a walk. Designated hitter Kyuss Gargett was scheduled to hit with the bases loaded, but was pulled and replaced with pinch-hitter Carson Hansen. Hansen did not see game action in Kentucky’s first three games of the season.

The Pewaukee, WI native spent two seasons at Milwaukee prior to transferring to Kentucky, where he was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team in 2023 and the Horizon All-League First Team in 2024. In 78 career games, Hansen boasted a career .312 batting average with 26 doubles, 11 home runs, and 74 RBI. He was an underrated pickup for Nick Mingione and his staff this offseason.

In his first at-bat as a Wildcat, Hansen belted a grand slam over the right center field fence to push Kentucky’s lead to 12. Just like that, the Cats were on the verge of their second mercy rule victory of the young season.

Carson Hansen (@Carson34Hansen) first AB as a Cat.

Grand Slam. pic.twitter.com/EFhIGIsRi5

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) February 22, 2025

Senior left-hander Cole Hentschel, a transfer from Richmond, entered in the seventh for his first game action of the season. He kept Belmont scoreless, preserving the shutout.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Kentucky will look to finish off the weekend sweep of Belmont in the series finale on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST, and the game (once again) will not be televised.