The Kentucky baseball team concluded its fall practice schedule with a scrimmage against Morehead State at Kentucky Proud Park on Sunday afternoon. The teams played two seven-inning games, with Kentucky winning 13-2 in the first game and 16-2 in the second game.
Earlier this fall, the Wildcats defeated Wright State 25-8 over the course of 14 innings. In all, Kentucky outscored its fall opponents 54-12 over 28 innings.
“The last time we played outside competition (at Kentucky Proud Park) was our first time going to Omaha,” Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione said after the game. “We actually had a great crowd today. I loved to see it. Super proud of the team. The growth they’ve made over the last 45 days is pretty impressive. I thanked them for all the strides they’ve made.”
Bat Cats Central was on hand for all 14 innings on Sunday. As a reminder, all stats are unofficial and based on my own note keeping. The scrimmage format also meant that a few innings got cut short as the teams agreed to end the inning early. The score could’ve been more lopsided in favor of Kentucky.
Here’s how the Wildcats lined up in game one:
KENTUCKY LINEUP
- Luke Lawrence, 2B — 1-4
- Will Marcy, CF — 3-4, 3 doubles, HBP
- Dylan Koontz, 1B — 1-2, homer, walk, 2 RBI
- Patrick Herrera, 3B — 0-2, walk
- Shaun Montoya, RF — 1-4
- Cole Hage, LF — 1-1; 3 RBI, 2 BB, sac fly
- Tyler Bell, SS — 0-2, HBP, BB, RBI
- Ethan Hindle, DH — 1-1, 3 RBI
- Eli Small, DH — 1-2; 2 RBI
- Devin Burkes, C — did not bat
Extra hitters:
Khaleel Pratt — 0-0, BB, HBP
Hayden Mains — 0-1, BB
Aidan Larkin — 1-2, RBI
Nolan Belcher — 0-2
Kentucky pitchers for game one:
- RHP Scott Rouse – 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
- LHP Ethan Walker – 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 K
- RHP Tristan Hunter – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB,
- LHP Leighton Harris – 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
- LHP Logan Grubb – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K
Observations
- Radford transfer Scott Rouse took the mound for game one and tossed three scoreless innings. He struck out five of the 13 batters he faced and allowed just two hits and two walks. It was a sharp performance and one that likely felt like a bounce back since he didn’t have his best stuff against Wright State earlier in the fall. He gave up a couple of earned runs at Prasco Park but held Morehead State off the board on Sunday. He’s firmly in the mix for a weekend rotation spot moving forward.
- Harris and Grubb, a pair of lefties, showed some good stuff in their outing. Harris struck out two batters and walked two, but he posted a zero in his frame. Grubb allowed one earned run and had two strikeouts, though he struck out a third batter who happened to reach as the ball got past the catcher.
- Offensively, center fielder Will Marcy continues to be impressive. He ripped three doubles and was hit by a pitch in the contest. As of today, it’s hard to see him not being one of the nine best hitters in the lineup for the Wildcats.
- Campbell transfer Dylan Koontz is the clear top option at first base as of now. He homered into the right field bullpen and also drew a walk. He’ll need to continue to come along defensively, but he looks like a middle of the order bat for the Wildcats this spring.
- Eli Small went the opposite way for a double that plated two runs in the first game. That ended the first inning with Kentucky holding a 6-0 lead. Small, who was a designated hitter in game one, came back and roped another double into the right field gap in game two. I’m a believer in his bat, but he’ll have to keep improving in the outfield or else he might be best suited for DH. He had a chance at a sliding grab in game two that he didn’t come up with that could’ve kept a couple runs off the board. It wasn’t an easy play by any means, but it was catchable. He’s new to the outfield and he’s just a sophomore, so there’s time to get better.
- Unfortunately, redshirt freshman Hudson Brown re-aggravated his hamstring while running to first base. He limped off the field and didn’t play in game two.
Lefthander Ethan Walker is another likely frontrunner for a weekend spot. He had a quick appearance against the Eagles, retiring the side in order with one strikeout. Other than that, Kentucky leaned on freshmen for the final three innings. Tristan Hunter allowed a solo home run to Aubrey Kearns to begin the fourth inning but got out of a bases loaded jam with a nice play by third baseman Patrick Herrera. Herrera fielded the ball near the third base bag, tagged it and tossed it across the infield to first for a double play. Dylan Koontz had a nice stretch on the play.