KENTUCKY PROUD PARK – March 9, 2020 – JOHN TURNER, III
The Kentucky Wildcats got back on the diamond this weekend taking on Norfolk State University Saturday at 6 PM and Oakland University in a double header Sunday with game times at 1 PM and 5 PM. The Wildcats were coming off a 9-8 walk off win against Murray State University from Wednesday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park.
Norfolk State
In game 1 of the weekend, Mason Hazelwood got the start for the Cats and Wright for the Spartans. Kentucky got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, with a solo homerun from Austin Shultz to get a quick 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Zeke Lewis grounded out, scoring Coltyn Kessler to put the Cats up 2-0. Chase Estep singled to right field, scoring Matt Golda to take a 3-0 lead after two innings of plays. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Coltyn Kessler singled to left field, scoring John Rhodes to take a 4-0 lead. Kentucky added seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a safe 11-0 lead after the seventh inning. Norfolk State was able to get one run across in the top of the eighth but wouldn’t be enough to give Kentucky an 11-1 win.
Mason Hazelwood was given the win and improves his record to (2-1) on the season and Kentucky to (8-6.) Mason went seven innings, giving up five hits, striking out nine batters, walking two batters, and allowing zero runs. Kentucky was led offensively from Jaren Shelby going (2-5) with one RBI, Austin Shultz going (3-4) with two RBI’s and one homerun, and John Rhodes going (2-5) with one RBI. Kentucky had eleven different players who managed to get a hit. Kentucky scored eleven runs, had fifteen hits, committed one error, and left six runners on base.
Oakland Game 1
On Sunday, in game one of the double header, Alex Degan was the starter for Kentucky and B. Keathley for Oakland. Oakland picked up a run in the top of the first inning, putting the Cats down 1-0 early on. Kentucky responded in the bottom of the first, with TJ Collett hitting a double to left field, scoring Jaren Shelby. Oraj Anu hit a two-run homerun to left field, scoring TJ Collett to give Kentucky a 3-1 lead after the first. In the bottom of the second inning, Kentucky added three more runs with TJ Collett getting walked with bases loaded, scoring Chase Estep. Oraj Anu reaching on a fielder’s choice, scoring Jaren Shelby. John Rhodes grounded out to the pitcher, scoring Austin Shultz to get a 6-1 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Oakland added two runs to cut Kentucky’s lead to 6-3. In the top of the fifth, Oakland managed to get two more runs, putting the scoring to 6-5. Kentucky responded in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring five runs, with Austin Shultz hitting a grand slam, and TJ Collett hitting a solo homerun to get a 11-5 lead. Oakland picked up one more run in the top of the eighth inning, to put the final score to 11-6 giving Kentucky another win.
Cole Daniels picked up the win for Kentucky to put him to (2-0) on the season and moved Kentucky to (9-6) on the season. Kentucky was led offensively from Jaren Shelby going (3-4), Austin Shultz going (1-4) with four RBI’s and one homerun, TJ Collett going (2-4) with three RBI’s and one homerun, Oran Anu going (1-4) with three RBI’s, John Rhodes going (1-5) with one RBI, Zeke Lewis going (2-3), and Chase Estep going (1-4). Kentucky scored eleven runs, had eleven hits, committed one error, and left eight runners on base.
Oakland Game 2
In game two of the double header on Sunday, Jimmy Ramsey was awarded the start for Kentucky and M. Nolin for Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies got on the board first in the top of the first inning, scoring one run to jump to a 1-0 lead over Kentucky. In the bottom of the second inning, Dalton Grace grounded out to the pitcher, scoring Tanner Holen to tie the game up at 1-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, TJ Collett singled to center field, scoring Jaren Shelby. Tanner Holen singled to shortstop, scoring TJ Collett. Zeke Lewis singled to right field, scoring John Rhodes and TJ Collett. Dalton Grace singled back up the middle, scoring Tanner Holen. Jaren Shelby singled to third base, scoring Dalton Grace. TJ Collett double to right center, scoring Austin Shultz, Jaren Shelby, and Chase Estep. John Rhodes singled to right center, scoring TJ Collett. Kentucky scored eleven runs in the bottom of the third inning, giving Kentucky a 12-1 lead after the third inning. Kentucky picked up one more run in the bottom of the sixth with a double from Chase Estep, scoring Zeke Lewis to put the Cats up 13-1. Oakland added one run in the top of the seventh to put the score to 13-2, but wouldn’t be enough, ending the game after seven innings giving Kentucky a 13-2 win.
Jimmy Ramsey was given the win for Kentucky to put him to (2-2) on the season and improved the Cats to (2-2) on the season. Kentucky was led at the plate by TJ Collett going (2-4) with four RBI’s, John Rhodes going (2-3) with one RBI, Tanner Holen going (2-4) with one RBI, Zeke Lewis going (3-4) wit two RBI’s, Dalton Grace going (2-3) with three RBI’s, and Chase Estep going (2-4) with one RBI. Kentucky scored thirteen runs, had fourteen hits, committed one error, and left six runners on base.
Up Next
Kentucky picked up three good wins this past weekend to improve their record to (10-6) on the season. Kentucky plays Western Kentucky University Tuesday at 4 PM at Kentucky Proud Park. Kentucky hits the road this upcoming weekend to take on their first SEC play of the season taking on Vanderbilt University on Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 3 PM, and Sunday at 2 PM. All three of the SEC games will be streamed on SECN+.
