Kentucky Overcomes Early Deficit to Take Series Opener Against Wright State
The Bat ‘Cats opened this weekend’s three-game series against the Wright State Raiders with an 8-3 victory.
Senior RHP Logan Martin got the start on the mound for Kentucky, his second of the season and first in front of the Big Blue Nation.
Wright State Jumps Out Early
The Raiders got off to a scorching hot start, scoring two runs before an out was recorded. After Wright State SS Justin Riemer drew a game-opening walk, 2022 First-Team Horizon League 1B Julian Greenwell belted a two-run home run over the right field wall into The Hook. Kentucky found themselves facing an early two-run deficit.
After falling into the early hole, the ‘Cats immediately responded. CF Jackson Gray legged out a double on a blooper down the left field line and would score following an overthrow to third on a steal attempt. C Devin Burkes followed Gray with a double of his own — a rope down the right field line that bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. With Burkes on third following a wild pitch, 2B Émilien Pitre stepped up to bat.
Émilien Pitre Continues Hot Streak
Pitre, who was 7-10 in his previous 10 at-bats, continued his hot streak with a RBI single up the middle. After Pitre advanced to third, RF James McCoy hit a liner past Wright State 1B Greenwell to put the ‘Cats on top 3-2 early.
Following a 1-2-3 inning for both teams in the second, Wright State’s Justin Riemer hit his first home run of the season to knot things up at three a piece. However, the Raider lead wouldn’t hold for long. C Devin Burkes hit his second double of the afternoon, setting things up nicely for the red-hot Pitre. Pitre knocked a double to the center field wall to score Burkes from second, reclaiming the Wildcat lead. Following an error by Wright State 2B Gehrig Anglin, Hunter Gilliam reached first on a bouncer that scored Pitre.
The ‘Cats held a 5-3 lead through three.
Wright State’s Jake Shirk was pulled after 2.1 IP. Shirk allowed nine hits and five earned runs. After pitching a gem in their season opener at Hawaii, the ‘Cats really got after the reigning Horizon League Pitcher of the Week.
Devin Burkes: Double Machine
Logan Martin really settled in in the fourth, striking out two in the inning for his second 1-2-3 inning of the afternoon. Kentucky increased its lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a RBI single by Hunter Gilliam, his second RBI of the game. Devin Burkes continued his big night in the bottom of the fifth inning after hitting his third double of the afternoon, which scored Jackson Gray from second.
After a shaky start by Martin, he settled in nicely. He departed following the sixth inning, allowing just three hits (two of which were home runs) and three earned runs. Martin pitched three 1-2-3 innings and finished with a Kentucky career-high eight strikeouts. He was replaced by grad student Darren Williams to start the seventh.
Darren Williams Puts This One on Ice
After striking out seven of the 11 batters he faced in Kentucky’s season opener against Elon, Williams picked up right where he left off. He struck out the first two batters he faced and pitched a quick 1-2-3 seventh inning.
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Pitre, Kentucky’s sparkplug, continued to deliver, hitting his second double of the game to score Devin Burkes from second. Pitre is one of the hottest players in the SEC right now, getting a hit in 10 of his last 14 at-bats.
“That’s my boy. He can ball,” Devin Burkes said of his teammate Pitre. “He’s always grinded. He’s so good.”
Head coach Nick Mingione commented on the dynamic Burks/Pitre after the game, saying, “They just have good at-bats and they can beat you with a walk, a specialty play, a double, or a home run. Those guys’ abilities to have quality at-bats has been really good and it’s been that way the whole preseason.”
Burkes and Pitre combined for six hits, four RBI, and five doubles in Friday’s contest.
Williams came back and pitched back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the eighth and ninth to end the game. He and Martin combined for six 1-2-3 innings — just a gem of a game by these two on Friday night.
“I’m not surprised at all”, Mingione responded when asked about Williams’ early domination. “He’s a guy that’s played a lot of college baseball and he throws five pitches for a strike. That’s what he did today. I’m not surprised, but I’m so excited and happy to see him doing so well.”
Through Williams’ first two appearances of the season, he’s pitched six innings, struck out 13 batters and allowed zero hits. Absolute domination.
Kentucky looks to take game two of the series over Wright State Saturday at 1:00 PM EST at Kentucky Proud Park.
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