FB Recruiting RECAP: Cats bash four homers to clinch series over SC

[Jeff Drummond]

RECAP: Kentucky tops South Carolina 10-5 to claim series

Kentucky's Luke Heyer (center) celebrated his 13th home run of the season with Troy Squires (16) and Trey Dawson (2).
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated

Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky opened Sunday's game against South Carolina with home runs from Tristan Pompey and Troy Squires and went back to back once again in the sixth inning with Luke Heyer and Luke Becker en route to a 10-5 series-clinching win over the Gamecocks.

No. 9 Kentucky (22-10, 5-7 SEC) took two of three games during the weekend series at Cliff Hagan Stadium. It marked the third consecutive series win for the Cats over East rival South Carolina (18-14, 5-7 SEC).

The Cats collected 13 hits on the afternoon, including three by Pompey, a junior leftfielder and preseason All-American. Eight of UK's starters recorded at least one hit.

Heyer, a senior outfielder in the early discussion for SEC Player of the Year, clubbed his 13th home run of the season and drove in three runs. Becker, a senior second baseman, celebrated his birthday with his fourth home run and reached base five times in the game.

It was more than enough run support for the UK pitching staff. Junior right-hander Justin Lewis (6-2) started the game and allowed only two earned runs over 5.1 innings. Jimmy Ramsey, Carson Coleman and Chris Machamer closed it out with solid relief work.

Machamer picked up his fourth save of the season by working the final 2.1 innings in perfect fashion.

With two errors on the day, it wasn't a flawless performance by the Cats, but shortstop Trey Dawson may have made the biggest play in the game when he dove to take away a hit from South Carolina's Chris Cullen with two outs and runners at second and third in the sixth inning.

That play held the lead at 5-3 and allowed UK to explode for four runs in the bottom of the inning to put the Cats in total control.

South Carolina starter Ridge Chapman (1-4) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks during three innings on the mound.

The Gamecocks managed only five hits on the day, one a solo home run by leftfielder Carlos Cortes.

Kentucky returns to action Wednesday at Western Carolina in a 5 p.m. ET matchup leading up to the Cats' three-game weekend series at Georgia.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

NOTES

·The UK offense …

oHas homered in 28 of 32 games this season.

oHas 21 innings this season scoring at least four runs.

oTristan Pompey and Troy Squires hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, the first time UK has done that since Riley Mahan and Squires did so vs. Tennessee on May 12, 2017.

oLuke Heyer and Luke Becker then went back-to-back in the sixth inning.

oAll nine starters reached base safely and eight had hits.

·Several Cats extended impressive reached base safely streaks…

oJunior OF Tristan Pompey has reached in 61 of the past 64 games.

oSenior INF Luke Becker has reached in all 32 games.

oSenior C/1B Troy Squires has reached in 31 of 32 games this season.

oJunior OF Ben Aklinski has reached in 26 of the last 27 games.


·Senior C/1B Troy Squires went 1-for-4 with a solo HR and two runs scored.

oHis sacrifice bunt in the fourth inning gave him 29 for his career, which moves him into sole possession of second place on UK’s all-time career list. He is 11 behind Ryan Wilkes (2005-08).

oClubbed his fourth home run of the season and second of the series, a solo shot in the first inning that followed Tristan Pompey’s leadoff blast.


·Junior OF Tristan Pompey went 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and a HR.

oRecorded his second three-hit game of the weekend.

oNow has four career leadoff home runs.

oHas nine multi-hit games this season and 43 for his career.

oHas six multi-RBI games this season and 26 for his career.


·Senior INF Luke Becker went 2-for-2 with two runs, a home run and three walks.

oIt was Becker’s birthday, making him the first UK player to homer on his birthday since Austin Cousino in 2012.

oBecker has reached in all 32 games this season.

oBecker has 10 multi-hit games this season and 37 for his career.


·Senior INF/OF Luke Heyer went 2-for-4 with a run, three RBI and a HR.

oHeyer now has a team and SEC-high 13 home runs this season.

oHe has 13 multi-hit games this season and 17 for his career.

oHe has a team-high 11 multi-RBI games this season and 14 for his career.


·Sophomore RHP Chris Machamer earned the save while going 2.1 innings. He allowed no runs, no walks, one hit and struck out three.

oIt was Machamer’s second multi-inning save of the week. He also pitched 2.1 hitless innings vs. No. 21 Louisville on Tuesday, striking out three.

oHis line for the week: 2 saves, 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K

 

[Jeff Drummond]