FB Recruiting RECAP: Arkansas Takes Game 1

[Jeff Drummond]

Kentucky drops SEC opener at Arkansas

Reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Sean Hjelle.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated

Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK

Arkansas took advantage of a rare "off night" for reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Sean Hjelle, chasing Kentucky's ace after only 3.1 innings on Friday in the league opener for both teams.

In a high-profile matchup between top-five teams, the No. 5 Razorbacks got two home runs and four RBI from catcher Grant Hoch en route to a 9-4 win over the No. 4 Wildcats in Fayetteville, Ark.

Arkansas (14-4, 1-0 SEC) collected 11 hits against the UK staff, including four against Hjelle. The junior right-hander struggled with his control, walking five batters, hitting one, and throwing two wild pitches before exiting in the fourth inning.

The Razorbacks got hits from eight of nine men in the lineup and RBI from six slots in a balanced offensive attack.

Hjelle (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season.

Kentucky (14-4, 0-1 SEC) tallied 12 hits, including a three-hit night for senior catcher/first baseman Troy Squires, but could not take advantage of numerous scoring opportunities. The Cats finished with 12 runners left on base.

Jake Reindl (1-1) earned the win for Arkansas, pitching in relief of starter Blaine Knight, who entered the game with a 3-0 record and a 0.78 ERA. UK forced him out in only 4.2 innings, but he limited the damage to just two runs on six hits and a walk.

Game 2 of the three-game series is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

NOTE: Due to the threat of storms in Arkansas tomorrow, Games 2 and 3 will be a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 3 ET.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

NOTES

· Kentucky is 4-2 against ranked opponents this season.
· The offense has …
o Hit a home run in 17 of 18 games this season.


· Senior C/1B Troy Squires went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
o Squires has reached base safely in all 18 games this season.
o He is riding a career-long eight game hitting streak.
o He now has six multi-hit games this season and 19 for his career.

· Senior INF Luke Becker went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.
o He has reached base safely streak to all 18 games this season.
o This was his fifth multi-hit game of the season and 32nd of his career.

· Junior OF Ben Aklinski walked to extend his reached base streak to 13 games.

· Junior OF Tristan Pompey went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and a walk.
o Pompey has reached base in 48 of the past 50 games.
o This was his fourth multi-hit game of the season and 37th of his career.

· Sophomore DH T.J. Collett has reached base in 17 straight games.

 

[Old_Red]

Who's pitching today for the Cats?