Kentucky Wildcats overpower South Carolina in series opener
Kentucky junior right-hander Sean Hjelle shined in the series opener against the Gamecocks.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Sean Hjelle pitched seven dominant innings and the Kentucky bats supported him with one of their strongest showings in SEC play as the Wildcats blasted South Carolina 14-1 on Friday night in the first game of a weekend series at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Hjelle (5-2) allowed only one run on five hits. The junior right-hander struck out eight and did not issue a walk. He threw only 93 pitches in the efficient gem, 61 of them for strikes.
"I can't say enough about Sean Hjelle," UK coach Nick Mingione said. "He just pounded the strike zone."
It was a special night for the White Bear Lake, Minn., native, who had several family members and friends on hand to see him pitch.
"I had 18 people on my pass list today," Hjelle said. "My sister is one of the loudest human beings on the planet, so hearing her all game was funny. It was good to have them here. They came all this way, traveled so many miles, it's almost disappointing if you don't do well."
The UK offense gave Hjelle a wave of support early in the game. The No. 9 Cats posted three runs in the second inning and four in the fourth against USC starter Adam Hill to take total command of the game. They added five more in the sixth to effectively end any thoughts of a Gamecock comeback.
Junior outfielder Tristan Pompey matched his career high and senior catcher Troy Squires established a new one with five RBI. Squires collected four of those with one swing of the bat, a sixth-inning grand slam over the wall in right field. It also marked the 100th hit of Squires' career, the 52nd player in UK program history to reach that milestone.
"When (Pompey) and Troy are going that well, that obviously sets the table for our offense," Mingione said.
Kentucky (21-9, 4-6 SEC) recorded 13 hits and drew 11 walks, its second highest figure of the season.
Four Cats had multi-hit games, including: Pompey (3), Squires (2), Ben Aklinski (2) and Trey Dawson (2). A junior shortstop, Dawson also walked twice, scored four runs and drove in a pair for the best offensive night of his UK career.
Senior outfielder Luke Heyer added his 12th home run of the season -- tied for the team lead with Kole Cottam -- a 425-foot monster shot to center field in the seventh inning.
Hill (3-3) allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on four hits and seven walks.
"Adam Hill's a great pitcher," Mingione said. "... You guys saw his opponent batting average (.110) - that guy's as good a pitcher as we're going to face. I mean, he's really good, so I'm really proud of the job our offense did against a really quality arm like Adam Hill."
South Carolina (17-13, 4-6 SEC) got an RBI single from first baseman Matt Williams to account for its lone run.
Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.
Kentucky junior right-hander Sean Hjelle shined in the series opener against the Gamecocks.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Sean Hjelle pitched seven dominant innings and the Kentucky bats supported him with one of their strongest showings in SEC play as the Wildcats blasted South Carolina 14-1 on Friday night in the first game of a weekend series at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Hjelle (5-2) allowed only one run on five hits. The junior right-hander struck out eight and did not issue a walk. He threw only 93 pitches in the efficient gem, 61 of them for strikes.
"I can't say enough about Sean Hjelle," UK coach Nick Mingione said. "He just pounded the strike zone."
It was a special night for the White Bear Lake, Minn., native, who had several family members and friends on hand to see him pitch.
"I had 18 people on my pass list today," Hjelle said. "My sister is one of the loudest human beings on the planet, so hearing her all game was funny. It was good to have them here. They came all this way, traveled so many miles, it's almost disappointing if you don't do well."
The UK offense gave Hjelle a wave of support early in the game. The No. 9 Cats posted three runs in the second inning and four in the fourth against USC starter Adam Hill to take total command of the game. They added five more in the sixth to effectively end any thoughts of a Gamecock comeback.
Junior outfielder Tristan Pompey matched his career high and senior catcher Troy Squires established a new one with five RBI. Squires collected four of those with one swing of the bat, a sixth-inning grand slam over the wall in right field. It also marked the 100th hit of Squires' career, the 52nd player in UK program history to reach that milestone.
"When (Pompey) and Troy are going that well, that obviously sets the table for our offense," Mingione said.
Kentucky (21-9, 4-6 SEC) recorded 13 hits and drew 11 walks, its second highest figure of the season.
Four Cats had multi-hit games, including: Pompey (3), Squires (2), Ben Aklinski (2) and Trey Dawson (2). A junior shortstop, Dawson also walked twice, scored four runs and drove in a pair for the best offensive night of his UK career.
Senior outfielder Luke Heyer added his 12th home run of the season -- tied for the team lead with Kole Cottam -- a 425-foot monster shot to center field in the seventh inning.
Hill (3-3) allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on four hits and seven walks.
"Adam Hill's a great pitcher," Mingione said. "... You guys saw his opponent batting average (.110) - that guy's as good a pitcher as we're going to face. I mean, he's really good, so I'm really proud of the job our offense did against a really quality arm like Adam Hill."
South Carolina (17-13, 4-6 SEC) got an RBI single from first baseman Matt Williams to account for its lone run.
Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.
