FB Recruiting Cats keep mashing in 16-5 win over EKU

[Jeff Drummond]

RECAP: Cats keep mashing in 16-5 win over EKU
Jeff Drummond | Managing Editor

Kole Cottam (13) helped T.J. Collett celebrate his eighth home run of the season.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky's bats showed no signs of cooling off after returning from a torrid three-day trip to Houston for the Shriners College Classic.

The No. 6 Wildcats came home to face Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium, banging out 15 hits in a 16-5 win over the Colonels.

Kentucky (12-1) had eight extra-base hits on the day, including three doubles as part of a 4-for-4 game by senior catcher/first baseman Troy Squires, a double and a grand slam by reigning SEC Player of the Week Luke Heyer, and a home run by T.J. Collett.

Squires and Heyer each drove in four runs for the Cats. Heyer, who raised his season batting average to .488, kept pace with Collett for the team lead in homers with eight apiece.

Junior first baseman/catcher Kole Cottam also homered and drove in a pair of runs for UK.

The run support helped UK starter Daniel Harper (1-0) pick up up his first collegiate win. The freshman right-hander allowed four runs on six hits, walked none, and struck out three over five innings on the mound.

Kentucky got strong relief work from Jimmy Ramsey, Zach Haake, Trip Lockhart and Crosby Bringhurst. The bullpen quartet combined to allow only one run over four innings and struck out four.

The UK staff did not allow a walk on the day.

Eastern Kentucky (5-7) started Logan Teague (1-1) who allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks over three innings of work.

The Colonels were led by Ryland Kerr and Brenden Overton at the plate, each collecting two hits. Cornell Nixon added a two-run triple, and Chris Botsoe also drove in a pair of runs for EKU.

Kentucky is scheduled to play again Wednesday against Northern Kentucky, weather permitting. First pitch at Cliff Hagan Stadium is slated for 4 p.m. ET.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

 

[Jeff Drummond]

NOTES

·Kentucky’s 12-1 start to the season is the best for the program since the 2012 club won its first 22 games.

·The offense has …

oHit a home run in all 13 games this season.

oScored 93 runs in the past eight games.

oRecorded 70 extra base hits this season.

oScored 47 runs on 54 hits in the past four games.


·Senior 3B/OF Luke Heyer went 3-for-4 with three runs, a double, a grand slam and four RBI.

oHeyer has now hit four home runs in the past four games.

oHis eight home runs are tied with T.J. Collett for the team lead.

oHeyer is leading the team with a .488 batting average.

oIn the past four games, he is hitting .733 (11-of-15) with eight runs, 10 RBI, three doubles and four home runs with a slugging percentage of 1.733.

oHis three runs scored and four RBI are both new career highs.


·Sophomore C/1B T.J. Collett went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run and three RBI.

oCollett’s home run gives him eight on the season.

oHe has homered in three consecutive games for the second time this season and in seven of the past nine games overall.

oRiding a career-long 12-game hitting streak.


·Senior C/1B Troy Squires went 4-for-4 with two runs, three doubles and four RBI.

oThe four hits are a career-high.

oThe four RBI tied his career high set vs. Georgia on 5/16/17.

oSquires had two-run doubles in the second and seventh innings.

oSquires recorded the 26th sacrifice of his career, which ranks fourth on UK’s career list and just one behind Matt Reida (2011-14) for third.

oSquires has reached base safely in all 13 games this season.


·Junior C/1B Kole Cottam went 2-for-3 with three runs, a home run, two RBI and two walks.

oCottam now has four home runs on the season.