FB Recruiting Cats open Kentucky Proud Park with win

[Jeff Drummond]

Cats open new park with win

Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK

UK gets strong start from Grant Macciocchi, long ball from TJ Collett to highlight 7-3 win over EKU in first game at the new $49-million Kentucky Proud Park.

Kentucky second baseman flipped the ball to first after fielding a grounder in the Wildcats' first game at the new Kentucky Proud Park.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- TJ Collett christened Kentucky Proud Park with the first long ball in the shiny new home of the Wildcats, a two-run, opposite-field shot in the fifth inning Tuesday that broke open a close game against Eastern Kentucky and sparked UK to a 7-3 win.

A crowd of 4,047 was on hand as Kentucky opened its $49-million facility on Alumni Drive after playing the last 50 years at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

“It was emotional,” UK coach Nick Mingione said. “That’s what I just told the guys. So many people, when you think about our ballpark, the time and the effort and the years... this has been a long time coming.

“Man, it feels good to get the win. I’m really relieved about that... I want to win every game, but you’ve got to win the first one, right?”

Kentucky got a strong starting performance from Grant Macciocchi, who allowed only one run on three hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. At one point, the junior right-hander retired 14 straight batters. He also struck out six to earn his first win of the season.

“He was the obvious choice for me to be the starter because he just moves the game along, and he’s super-competitive as a starter,” Mingione said.

Daniel Harper also gave UK 2.1 innings of perfect relief work, striking out five.

On a day that didn't feature many offensive fireworks for either team, Kentucky (4-3) took advantage of seven walks and four errors by the Colonels. Senior shortstop Alex Rodriguez had two hits and two walks for the Cats. Junior outfielder Jaren Shelby was a terror on the basepaths, stealing five bags on the day, including one of home.

Eastern Kentucky (6-3) started freshman right-hander Jacob Ferris, who was strong through his first four innings of work but ran into trouble in the fifth when he allowed a two-out single to UK's Ryan Shinn ahead of the home run by Collett.

Ferris (1-1) gave up three earned runs on four hits and two walks. The former Madison Central standout also struck out four.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

FIRST AND FOREMOST

A list of notable firsts from the opening game in Kentucky Proud Park:


Time of first pitch – 4:03 p.m. ET

Who threw first pitch – Grant Macciocchi, Kentucky

First hitter – Ryland Kerr, Eastern Kentucky

First Hit – Ryland Kerr, Eastern Kentucky

First out – Chris Botsoe, Eastern Kentucky popped out (foul) to UK catcher Coltyn Kessler,

First Hit by Kentucky player – Dalton Reed, double, bottom of 2nd inning

First Home Run – T.J. Collett, Kentucky, bottom of 5th inning, left-centerfield off EKU’s Jacob Ferris

First RBI – T.J. Collett, Kentucky, bottom of 5th inning

Run Scored – Dalton Reed, Kentucky, bottom of 2nd

Stolen Base – Jaren Shelby, Kentucky, bottom of 5th

Strikeout – EKU’s Will Johnson by UK’s Grant Macciocchi (leading off top of 2nd inning, looking)

Walk – Alex Rodriguez, Kentucky, bottom of 4th



SCORING

Bottom 2nd – Dalton Reed doubled to LCF and moved to third on an Alex Rodriguez infield single. Cam Hill reached on a two-out throwing error by the 2B, scoring Reed. UK 1, EKU 0.


Bottom 5th – Ryan Shinn singled to LF and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. T.J. Collett homered to LCF. Jaren Shelby walked, stole second, stole third and stole home. UK 4, EKU 0.


Top 6th – Marcus Hill walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a wild pitch. Ryland Kerr grounded out to SS, scoring Hill. UK 4, EKU 1.


Bottom 6th – Zeke Lewis, Breydon Daniel and Shinn walked. Shelby reached on an error by the right fielder, Lewis and Daniel scored, Shinn to third. Shinn scored on a wild pitch. UK 7, EKU 1.


Top 9th – Nick Howie singled to open the inning. Will Johnson and A.J. Lewis walked to load the bases. Logan Thomason singled to LF with two outs, scoring Howie and Johnson. UK 7, EKU 3.




NOTES

·This was Kentucky’s first game and first win in Kentucky Proud Park.

·The crowd of 4,074 was the 10th-largest in program history.

·Kentucky has scored in 71 consecutive games and 147 of the past 148 dating to the 2016 season. The lone shutout came in a seven-inning game. The current streak is the eighth-longest in school history.

·The Wildcats stole seven bases in the game, including five by junior OF Jaren Shelby.

oThe seven steals are the most for UK in a game since it swiped eight against Auburn on April 25, 2010.

·Junior RHP Grant Macciocchi pitched 5.2 innings, giving up three hits, one run, walking one and striking out six.

oIt was Macciocchi’s first start and first win at Kentucky.

oHe retired 13 consecutive hitters after the leadoff batter singled to open the game.

·Junior 1B/DH T.J. Collett went 1-for-5 with a run and a two-run home run.

oCollett’s blast was the first in Kentucky Proud Park history.

oIt was his team-leading third of the season.

·Junior OF Jaren Shelby went 0-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and five stolen bases.

oShelby is the first Wildcat to steal four or more bases in a game since Storm Wilson stole four against Richmond on Feb. 14, 2015.

oShelby stole second base twice, third base twice and home.

oShelby now has six steals in the Cats’ first seven games.



ON DECK

The Cats returns to Kentucky Proud Park on Wednesday against Northern Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET and will be aired on SEC Network Plus. Audio coverage can be found via UKathletics.com.