FB Recruiting RECAP: Pompey powers Cats past Racers

[Jeff Drummond]

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RECAP: Pompey's grand slam powers Cats past Racers

Tristan Pompey hit a sixth-inning grand slam to break open Tuesday's game at Murray State.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated

Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK

Tristan Pompey went 4-for-6 with two doubles and a grand slam home run on Tuesday night in Paducah as Kentucky rolled to a 14-2 win over Murray State in its final non-conference game of the regular season.

Pompey, a junior outfielder from Canada and a preseason All-America selection, hit a sixth-inning grand slam to break open what had been a close game. From there, the No. 16 Wildcats poured it on with 11 runs in their final three trips to the plate.

The game was called in the eighth inning due to the threat of severe weather in the area.

Kentucky (34-18) collected 13 hits on the night, including three home runs. In addition to Pompey's big blast, Kole Cottam belted a two-run shot -- his 17th of the season, tied with Luke Heyer for the team lead -- and Ben Aklinski added a solo shot to go along with a two-run triple.

Eight UK players collected at least one hit on the night. Trey Dawson drove in a pair of runs, while Luke Becker scored two.

Murray State (24-27) hung within 3-2 entering the sixth inning thanks to some solid pitching from Mike Farnell and Peyton Hayes but it unraveled quickly for the Racers.

Hayes (1-6) was tagged with the loss after allowing the runners leading up to Pompey's big blast off Caleb Hicks.

Mason Hazelwood (1-1) picked up the win in relief of starter Brad Schaenzer and Daniel Harper. The freshman left-hander, who starred in UK's weekend victory over Mississippi State, turned in two innings of shutout work.

The UK bullpen finished the night with 4.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Third baseman Davis Sims had two of Murray State's nine hits on the night.

Kentucky concludes the regular season with a three-game series this weekend at Vanderbilt.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

NOTES

·Kentucky has scored in 60 consecutive games and 136 of the past 137 dating to the 2016 season. The lone shutout came in a seven-inning game.

·The Cats recorded a “biggie” inning for the fourth straight game and now have 30 this season. A “biggie” inning is one of at least four runs.

·The Cats now have scored double-digit runs 18 times this season.

·The offense had eight extra-base hits: four doubles, a triple and three home runs.

·UK is 37-1 under coach Nick Mingione when scoring 10 or more runs.


·Several Cats extended impressive reached base safely streaks …

oJunior C/1B Kole Cottam has reached safely in 15 straight games, has hits in 26 of the past 28 games and is riding a career-long 15-game hit streak.

oJunior INF Trey Dawson has now reached base safely in 13 straight and 22 of his last 23 games.

oSenior INF/OF Luke Heyer has reached in 15 straight games and 20 of the last 21 games.

oSenior INF Luke Becker has reached in 50 of 52 games (and 94 of 96 including 2017 summer ball).


·Junior OF Tristan Pompey went 4-for-6 with three runs, four RBI, two doubles, a grand slam and a stolen base.

oThe home run was his seventh of the season and second straight midweek game with a blast.

oHe has 18 doubles this season and 44 for his career.

oHe now has 190 career hits, moving him past Michael Bertram (2003-06) into 18th place on UK’s all-time list. He is five behind AJ Reed (2012-14).

oPompey now has 18 multi-hit games this season and 52 for his career.

oHe has 14 multi-RBI games this season and 29 for his career.


·Junior C/1B Kole Cottam went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, two walks, a double and a home run.

oCottam now has 11 doubles and 17 home runs this season.

oHe has a team-leading 22 multi-hit games this season and 48 for his career.

oCottam tied Luke Heyer for the team-lead with 14 multi-RBI games and now has 29 for his career.


·Senior INF/OF Luke Heyer had his third double in the past two games.

oHeyer now has 17 doubles and 17 home runs on the season.


·Senior INF Luke Becker went 1-for-2 with two runs, an RBI, two walks and a hit by pitch.

oThe senior now has 93 career walks and is on the verge of entering the top 10 for career walks along with Tristan Pompey (94).


·Junior OF Ben Aklinski went 2-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, a triple, a home run and a walk.

oThe home run was his sixth of the season.

oHe now has 18 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games this season.


·Redshirt Freshman Brayden Combs earned his first career start.


·Freshman LHP Mason Hazelwood earned his first career collegiate victory with 2.0 scoreless innings.