FB Recruiting RECAP: Arkansas sweeps Cats

[Jeff Drummond]

RECAP: Arkansas sweeps Kentucky

Kentucky coach Nick Mingione.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated

Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK

Kentucky's first SEC series of the season is one the Wildcats would like to forget.

Arkansas crushed UK 14-2 and 16-9 in a doubleheader Saturday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville to wrap up a stunning sweep. The No. 5 Razorbacks won Friday's opener 9-4.

The No. 4 Cats were outscored 39-14 in the series, surrendering 49 hits and 13 home runs to the red-hot Razorbacks.

Arkansas (16-4) got seven hits, including two home runs, and six RBI from junior shortstop Jax Biggers in the weather-prompted doubleheader. Senior second baseman Carson Shaddy and junior outfielder Eric Cole each added six hits with Shaddy belting two home runs and Cole going deep once.

Kentucky (14-6) was coming off an impressive series win over No. 3 Texas Tech, taking two out of three from the Red Raiders in Lexington, but could not match that performance.

None of the Cats' starting pitchers -- Sean Hjelle, Justin Lewis and Daniel Harper -- managed to make it past the fifth inning in the series. On Saturday in the first game, Lewis was rocked for 11 earned runs on 13 hits and a walk through 4.1 innings on the mound. In the second game, Harper surrendered five earned runs on four hits and walk without escaping the first inning.

Kentucky had only three hits over eight innings in the opener against Arkansas sophomore right-hander Isaiah Campbell (2-2), who struck out eight and worked around four walks.

The Cats managed to put up nine runs on 14 hits in the finale against three Razorback pitchers, highlighted by a three-hit day and a home run from junior outfielder Ben Aklinski.

Junior left-hander Kacey Murphy (3-0) picked up the win for Arkansas with 5.1 innings of solid relief work.

Kentucky returns to action Tuesday at Xavier in a 3 p.m. ET game. The Musketeers beat the Cats 3-2 earlier this season in Lexington.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

NOTES

·Kentucky is 4-4 against ranked opponents this season.

·The offense has …

oHit a home run in 19 of 20 games this season.


·The Cats have a number of players with impressive reached base safely streaks…

oJunior OF Tristan Pompey has reached in 50 of the last 52 games.

oSenior INF Luke Becker has reached in all 20 games.

oJunior OF Ben Aklinski has reached in 15 straight games.

oSenior C/1B Troy Squires has reached in 19 of 20 games this season.

oSophomore DH T.J. Collett has reached in 18 of the past 19 games.


·Junior C Marshall Gei recorded his first hit of the season and his first career stolen base.


·Junior C/1B Kole Cottam

oHomered in the opener to give him home runs in back-to-back games.

oHad two hits in the opener for seventh multi-hit game of the season and 33rd of his career.

oHad two RBI in the opener for his seventh career multi-RBI game and 21st of his career.


·Junior OF Ryan Johnson registered a hit in both games to give him a career-long six-game hit streak.

 

[Tskware]

Four straight losses to ranked teams. Clearly we have a problem with the 3rd starter, at least. And Lewis continues to give up HRs, but the strange thing is, he seems to be throwing noticeably harder this year than last.

Hope we can regroup and put together a good week against X and Auburn.

 

[Gabewcat]

Jeff: I watched all 3 games on the internet and I felt the umpires were having two different strike zones for each team. I think that is one reason that Arkansas hit 13 home runs. All 3 home plate umpires were giving the Razorbacks the outside corner an the low pitches around the knees. Uk pitchers didn't get the same benefit.Saying that it was still a pretty impressive power display by Arkansas. I know one thing Sean Hjelle walked 5 men inhis game and he had only walked 4 men in his first 4 starts. I just hope that UK wil get the same benefits vs Auburn at home this weeknd or we could start out 0-6. Auburn Friday night guy is a first round draft choice.