Kentucky Baseball Straps in for Midweek Battle Against Morehead State

Kentucky baseball welcomes the first of five in-state opponents this season when undefeated, 8-0 Morehead State makes the 66-mile trip to Kentucky Proud Park on Tuesday afternoon for a one-and-done.

The Eagles, on the cusp of history, look to exact revenge on the Wildcats after last season’s 7-5 loss. With an upset victory on Tuesday, Morehead State would advance to 9-0 for the first time in program history. The Eagles haven’t defeated Kentucky since 2014 when they knocked off the then #12 ranked Wildcats 6-4 at the Cliff.

Kentucky Baseball is 5-2 on the season, winning both three-game series against Elon and Wright State two games to one. The ‘Cats defeated Evansville 6-3 in the only one-and-done game so far this season. Morehead State has been mightily impressive through its first eight games of the season, absolutely running through Norfolk State and Saint Peter’s by a combined 75-23 run differential.

Morehead State Impact Players

Starting on the mound for Morehead State will be freshman LHP Riley Bradshaw, who will be making his first start and third appearance of the season. In 3.1 IP, Bradshaw has given up just one hit and struck out four. Strong start to his career.

Junior 1B Jackson Feltner has been the Eagles’ most impressive offensive weapon so far this season. Louisa’s own is batting .423 with four home runs and 12 RBI, making him one of only 46 players in college baseball with four-plus homers on the season. Also hitting over .400 is junior C Ryan Grabosch. Grabosch has notched a hit in seven of his 17 at-bats, including two doubles and a triple. Junior SS Colton Becker has been a menace on the base paths, successfully recording a stolen base in all five attempts.

The Morehead State pitching staff has been lights out through its first eight games, sporting eight pitchers that have struck out more batters than allowed hits. The key for the Kentucky offense is to get after the freshman Bradshaw immediately as they did in their 15-0 demolition of Wright State on Sunday afternoon. Bradshaw is making his first career start and it is integral for Émilien Pitre, Devin Burkes, and company to make him uncomfortable early.

Kentucky Impact Players

Through their first seven games, catcher Devin Burkes has taken leadership over the Bat ‘Cats. The Florida native is scorching hot, coming off a big week in which he slashed a .563 average, recording a hit in nine of 16 at-bats. He smacked seven doubles (three of which came in one game), smashed a 416-foot home run in Sunday’s win against Wright State, and knocked in 11 runs. In light of his recent performances, he was named one of College Baseball’s Co-National Players of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper on Monday.

Sophomore 2B Émilien Pitre has formed a dynamic 1-2 punch with Burkes early this season. Pitre leads qualified Kentucky batters in batting average (.429), hits (12), and stolen bases (3). “Those guys’ abilities to have quality at-bats has been really good, and it was that way the entire preseason,” Head coach Nick Mingione said of this duo last Friday.

Redshirt freshman Travis Smith is likely to start his second career start on the mound for Kentucky on Tuesday and looks to continue his early season success. In his first and only start against Evansville, Smith pitched three innings, allowing three hits and just one run. Smith, who is coming off Tommy John surgery during his senior year of high school, will remain on an early season pitch count.

First pitch between Kentucky (5-2) and Morehead State (8-0) is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EST Tuesday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park.