The Kentucky baseball team dismantled No. 19 Houston 14-2 earlier today in the UK Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic.
The Wildcats (8-1) went deep early and often:
@Luke_Becker9 crushes an RBI Triple to the deepest part of Minute Maid Park in Houston! pic.twitter.com/rh42A8Fv85
— Lonny Becker (@VikingsRule10) March 3, 2018
Here’s a recap from UK:
HOUSTON – Luke Heyer hit a pair of home runs and the rest of the offense followed suit as No. 7 Kentucky routed No. 19 Houston, 14-2, in the opener of the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park. The game was called after seven innings due to the event’s mercy rule.
Heyer, who now leads the team with six home runs, belted a two-run shot into the Crawford Boxes in left field to get the Wildcats on the board against 2017 American Conference Pitcher of the Year and NCBWA First-Team All-American left-hander Trey Cumbie. Heyer later smoked a solo shot the opposite way for his first career two-homer game.
It wasn’t just Heyer who found the home of the Houston Astros to his liking. Junior outfielder Ryan Johnson, whose hometown of College Station is just down the road, connected for a double and home run, his third consecutive game with a round-tripper. Junior outfielder Ben Aklinski drilled a bases loaded double in the Cats’ five-run second as part of his four-RBI night and junior first baseman Kole Cottam cleared the high wall in left-centerfield for his 100th career hit.
On the mound, junior Sean Hjelle completed six innings, giving up six hits, two runs (one earned) and earning his 18th career win, moving him into 11th place on UK’s career list. Through three starts the 6-foot-11 righty has a 0.92 earned run average.
The Cats (9-1) have a quick turnaround, facing No. 20 Sam Houston State at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Bearkats erased a three-run deficit in the ninth against Vanderbilt with a pair of home runs and won on a walk-off homer in the 10th inning on Friday.
SCORING
Top 2nd – T.J. Collett singled to RF and scored on Luke Heyer’s home run to LF. Ryan Johnson doubled to LF. Alex Rodriguez reached on an error. Troy Squires worked a 10-pitch walk to load the bases. Ben Aklinski doubled to RCF, clearing the bases. UK 5, Houston 0.
Top 3rd – Kole Cottam singled up the middle and scored on Johnson’s home run to RF. UK 7, Houston 0.
Top 4th – Trey Dawson walked and scored on Luke Becker’s triple off the CF wall. Cottam homered above the high wall in LCF. UK 10, Houston 0.
Bottom 4th – Joe Davis singled to CF and advanced to second on Jared Triolo’s single up the middle. Davis scored on Tucker Redden’s single up the middle. UK 10, Houston 1.
Top 5th – Heyer homered to RF. Johnson was hit by a pitch and advanced to second when the LF dropped Alex Rodriguez’s fly ball. Johnson scored on Aklinski single to CF. UK 12, Houston 1.
Bottom 5th – Drew Minter reached on an error. Lael Lockhart singled to RF. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. Minter scored on Connor Hollis’ groundout. UK 12, Houston 2.
Top 7th – Squires walked and advanced to third on Aklinski’s double to RCF. Squires scored on Becker’s groundout. Aklinski scored on a passed ball. UK 14, Houston 2.
