T.J. Collett and Trae Harmon go deep, Austin Schultz remains red-hot for Wildcats
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Trae Harmon clubbed his second home run of the season, T.J. Collett added a moonshot of his own and Jimmy Ramsey picked up his first win of the season as Kentucky throttled Appalachian State, 7-3, in the first game of a three-game weekend series at Kentucky Proud Park on Friday.
The win was the 24th consecutive victory for UK over a non-Power Five conference opponent dating to the 2018 season. The Wildcats also tied the school-record of 124 consecutive games without being shutout and now have scored in 200 straight nine-inning games, the lone exception being a shortened seven-inning affair in the 2017 Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Harmon, a sophomore slugger from Somerset, Kentucky, put the Cats on the board with a mammoth home run in the fourth inning, his second blast in the first eight at-bats of the season for him. The towering drive cleared the UK bullpen and concourse beyond the left field wall before slamming off a secondary fence.
Collett immediately followed with a double to the wall in right field and scored when Austin Schultz doubled into the right field corner to give the Cats a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish. Collett later hit just the third home run to centerfield in Kentucky Proud Park’s two seasons, while Schultz continued his sizzling week that has seen him smack three extra-base hits and drive in seven runs in just eight at-bats.
UK starting pitcher Jimmy Ramsey pitched an effective 5.1 innings to secure the win, allowing just two runs on two hits before giving way to freshman Cole Stupp and sophomore Hunter Rigsby, who struck out the side in the ninth.
SCORING
Bottom 4th – Trae Harmon homered to LF. T.J. Collett doubled to RCF, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Austin Schultz’s double to RF. UK 2, APP. STATE 0.
Bottom 5th – Cam Hill walked, Drew Grace was hit by a pitch and Elliott Curtis dropped down a bunt single to load the bases. Collett hit a SAC fly to LF, scoring Hill. Schultz singled to LF, scoring Grace and Curtis. UK 5, APP. STATE 0.
Top 6th – Robbie Young and Andrew Greckel walked to open the inning and each moved up on Hayden Cross’ SAC bunt. Bailey Welch beat out an infield hit, scoring Young and moving Greckel to third. Peyton Idol doubled into RF corner, scoring Greckel and Welch. UK 5, APP. STATE 3.
Bottom 6th – Jaren Shelby walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. UK 6, APP. STATE 3.
Bottom 7th – Collett homered to CF. UK 7, APP. STATE 3.
NOTES
- Kentucky has scored in 124 consecutive games and 200 of the past 201 dating to the 2016 season. The lone shutout came in a seven-inning game. The current streak now is tied for the longest in school history and fourth-longest active streak in the country.
- The Cats now have won 24 straight games against non-Power Five opponents.
- Sophomore INF Austin Schultz has reached base safely in 45 of the past 47 games and 18 consecutive contests.
- Schultz finished 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
- In two games so far this week he has five hits in eight at-bats, two doubles, a home run and seven RBI.
- Senior 1B T.J. Collett went 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, a double and a home run.
- It was his first home run of the season and 22nd of his career.
- Sophomore 1B/OF Trae Harmon clubbed his second home run in the first eight at bats of the season.
- The home run put the Cats on the board and tied the school record at 124 consecutive games scoring a run.
- Junior RHP Jimmy Ramsey pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two hits, two runs, walking five and striking out four to earn the win.
ON DECK
The series against Appalachian State continues at Kentucky Proud Park on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on SECN+. The radio call will be on the UK Sports Network.