FB Recruiting Thompson shines, Cats bash four homers in season-opening win

[Jeff Drummond]

Thompson shines, Cats bash four homers in season-opening win

Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK

Kentucky gets strong start from preseason All-American Zack Thompson and a three-run, go-ahead homer from TJ Collett in the eighth inning to highlight an 8-4 win over Austin Peay.

Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated


Kentucky got a dominant start from preseason All-American pitcher Zack Thompson and came up with a four-run frame in the eighth inning Friday in Clarksville, Tenn., to claim a 8-4 win over Austin Peay in the season opener.

Thompson, a junior rated by some scouts as the top left-hander in the country, threw four shutout innings, allowing only one hit and three walks while striking out nine.

The Wildcats (1-0) supported their ace with four home runs, including three by newcomers. Dalton Reed, Jaren Shelby and Breydon Daniel all homered in their first game with UK, and TJ Collett smashed a three-run shot in the eighth inning to help the Cats rally from a 4-2 deficit.

Kentucky collected 11 hits, including three by Reed, who added a double and single to go along with his home run. The top of the Cats' lineup -- Daniel, Cam Hill, Shelby and Collett -- each collected two hits.

Austin Peay (0-1) got a solid start from All-OVC pitcher Jacques Pucheu, who allowed only two runs on three hits and a walk. The left-hander struck out five over six innings of work.

The Governors had a pair of two-run triples against the UK bullpen -- one from Garrett Spain and another from Malcolm Tiplet -- to account for their runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

Carson Coleman (1-0) picked up the win for the UK pitching staff, tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless relief after APSU had taken a 4-2 lead. The sophomore right-hander struck out four while allowing no baserunners.

Harley Gollert (0-1) took the loss for the Governors, surrendering four runs in the decisive eighth inning.

Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

 

[MAYHOO22]

ZT pitched well. Reed & Collett carried the offense.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

SCORING

Top 2nd – Dalton Reed homered to straight-away CF. UK 1, Austin Peay 0.


Top 6th – Jaren Shelby homered to LF. UK 2, Austin Peay 0.


Bottom 6th – Garrett Kueber walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Parker Phillips was intentionally walked. Garrett Spain tripled to LF, scoring Kueber and Phillips. UK 2, Austin Peay 2.


Bottom 7th – David Martinez hit by pitch to lead off the inning, moved to second on sacrifice bunt. Tyler Hubbard pinch ran for Martinez. Kueber walked. Malcolm Tipler tripled to RF, scoring Hubbard and Kueber. Austin Peay 4, UK 2.


Top 8th – Breydon Daniel doubled into the LF corner and scored on Cam Hill’s double over the head of the LF. Shelby walked. T.J. Collett homered to LF, scoring Hill and Shelby. UK 6, Austin Peay 4.


Top 9th – Daniel homered to LF. Hill singled up the middle and stole second. Shelby singled to LF, scoring Hill. UK 8, Austin Peay 4.



NOTES

·Kentucky has scored in 65 consecutive games and 141 of the past 142 dating to the 2016 season. The lone shutout came in a seven-inning game. The current streak is the eighth-longest in school history.

·Wildcats who made their debuts: Elliott Curtis (Jr., INF), Breydon Daniel (Jr., INF/OF), Cole Daniels (Fr., LHP), Dalton Reed (Jr., 1B) and Jaren Shelby (Jr., OF).


·Junior 1B/DH T.J. Collett had two hits and three RBI. He hit the 12th home run of this career.

oCollett has a nine-game reached base streak.

·Junior 1B Dalton Reed homered on the first pitch he saw as a Division I player. He is the first UK player to homer in his first career at bat since current Major Leaguer Luke Maile in 2010.

oReed also added a double as part of a three-hit afternoon.

·Sophomore OF Cam Hill went 2-for-5 with two runs, an RBI, double and two steals in his first collegiate start.

·Junior OF Jaren Shelby went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and a home run.

oThe home run was the first hit of Shelby’s career.

oHe becomes the second Shelby brother who homered in a season-opener for the Cats. JaVon Shelby did so in 2015 vs. Ball State.

·Junior LHP Zack Thompson pitched 4.0 innings, allowing just one hit and no runs. He struck out nine, just one shy of his career high.

oThompson now has struck out 11.95 hitters per nine innings of work for his career.


ON DECK

On Saturday, the Cats and Governors square off in the middle game of their series. Sophomore right-hander Jimmy Ramsey will get the start. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET and will air on 98.5 FM Lexington radio and UKathletics.com. There is no television or online streaming.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

I wonder if there will be any video highlights on the 11:00 news in Lexington ??