LEXINGTON, Ky. – Zack Brown scattered two hits and struck out 11 batters in a complete-game shutout to lead the University of Kentucky baseball team to a 6-0 victory over Northern Kentucky University at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Cole Bauml doubled to left-center field in the first inning and
Kyle Colletta singled up the middle in the third before Brown recorded 10 straight outs as the Wildcats, who improved to 10-3 overall, took a 4-0 advantage, courtesy of a four-run third inning.
Connor Heady sparked the Kentucky offense in the third when he was hit by a
Matt Jefferson pitch to reach base with one out, and Riley Mahan was hit by a pitch as well and JaVon Shelby drew a walk to load the bases after a Kyle Barrett line out. Kai'ai Tom then sent a 0-1 pitch into center field, allowing Connor Heady and Mahan to score for a 2-0 advantage.
After Tom stole second, a Thomas Bernal single through the left side brought Shelby and Barrett home to push the Wildcat lead to 4-0.
The four-run advantage stood until Kentucky struck again in the bottom of the eighth inning. Connor Heady drew a seven-pitch walk and scored on a Mahan doubled down the right-field line. Mahan advanced to third on a
Pierce Knisley wild pitch before Barrett was walked. A Shelby sacrifice fly allowed Mahan to score for the final margin of the game.
Bernal paced the Wildcats, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Tom drove in two runs and scored once for Kentucky, which recorded six hits and left eight baserunners stranded against NKU, which fell to 2-9 overall.
In addition to Bauml and Colletta's hits,
Quint Heady was the only other Norse to reach base when a fielding error by second baseman Shelby put him on first. Jefferson (0-4) took the loss for the Norse, allowing four runs on two hits with three strikeouts in three innings of work.
Alex Bolia and
Evan Korson each surrendered just one hit in their relief appearances, and Korson struck out two Wildcats batters.
NKU and Kentucky return to action on Sunday for a doubleheader to conclude the three-game series. First pitch for the opener is set for noon. Links to live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast are available at NKUNorse.com.
