FB Recruiting Shelby homer, defensive gem lift Cats to win

[Jeff Drummond]

Shelby homer, defensive gem lift Cats to win

Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK

Junior outfielder Jaren Shelby hits three-run homer, makes sensational defensive play to help Kentucky post 6-2 win at Lipscomb leading into weekend series at Ole Miss.

UK junior outfielder Jaren Shelby.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated

Jaren Shelby packed the highlight reel with big plays Wednesday night in Nashville.

Kentucky's junior outfielder hit a three-run home run with two outs in the eighth inning to cap a four-run rally and give the Wildcats a 6-2 win over Lipscomb.

Shelby has now homered in four of UK's last six games, all coming in the eighth inning. The Lexington native has six long balls and 30 RBI on the season.

He also came through with his glove, making a diving catch down the right-field line with a pair of Lipscomb runners on base. One run scored, but the trail runner was thrown out for a double play, ending the scoring threat.

The Cats also got a two-run double from Alex Rodriguez to highlight the offense.

Dillon Marsh started on the mound for UK, allowing only one run on five hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out five batters. Daniel Harper (3-1) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief before the decisive eighth inning.

Kentucky (18-15) remained undefeated against non-Power 5 opponents this season. The Cats are now 51-5 under head coach Nick Mingione against such teams over three years.

Lipscomb dropped to 15-17 on the season. The Bison were led by a solo home run from Cade Sorrells.

Kentucky returns to action on Friday in the first of a three-game SEC series at No. 10 Ole Miss. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

NOTES

·Kentucky has scored in 97 consecutive games and 173 of the past 174 dating to the 2016 season. The lone shutout came in a seven-inning game. The current streak now is the third-longest in school history.

·The Wildcats now are 16-0 this season against non-Power Five opponents and 51-5 in head coach Nick Mingione’s tenure against such foes.


·Freshman IF Austin Schultz extended his reached base safely streak to 23 games and hit streak to eight games with a single to open the game.

oThe eight-game hit streak is a career-long.

·Junior OF Jaren Shelby blasted a three-run home run as part of a night that also saw him make another highlight reel catch.

oShelby now has homered in four of the past six games.

oAll four of those home runs have come in the eighth inning.

oHe has six homers on the season and 30 RBI.