UK vs Murray St. Wednesday

[CloverforkCat]

The Cats (8-3) take on the Racers (6-7) today at 4:00 pm @ the friendly confines of CHS. Murray State comes in with a .327 team batting avg. with 17 HR's and also 17 stolen bases. They have a team ERA of 6.18.
The Racers just completed a 10 game home stand going 6-4. All of the losses came to Creighton. They were swept opening weekend down at Bethune Cookman in Florida.
UK looks to build on it's current 5 game winning streak, in the midst of their own 10 game home stand.

 

[Derek Terry]

I'll be there today. Will do my best to provide some insight for those who won't be able to catch the game.

 

[Derek Terry]

UK lineup:

8- Storm Wilson
3- Evan White
5- JaVon Shelby
6- Riley Mahan
DH- Gunnar McNeill
4- Luke Becker
7- Tristan Pompey
9- Marcus Carson
2- Kole Cottam

1- Zach Pop (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Decent crowd for a 4:00 game.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Throwing error on Murrays pitcher allows the inning to keep going. UK leads 2-0 after Becker is thrown out at second.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Pretty good start to the game. Sounds like we're getting the bat on the ball. 2-0

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Pretty good start to the game. Sounds like we're getting the bat on the ball. 2-0

UK is making good contact. But so is Murray State

 

[Comebakatz3]

Still don't understand Mahan hitting cleanup. The guy has struggled there a bit, and he isn't really known as a power guy. Not sure what the strategy of him hitting there is. I could understand him hitting 5th or 6th, but is a head scratcher, unless Henderson is using an unconventional lineup where he hopes the bases get cleared by Shelby and Mahan is kind of a guy that is going to get on base and start the rally up again.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Yea, Sounds like Pop isn't pitching too sharp. Cottam throws out a base runner! UK didn't see much of that last year!

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Mahan hitting 4th is perplexing but who would be a good fit there?

 

[Comebakatz3]

Mahan hitting 4th is perplexing but who would be a good fit there?

Well, Shelby has some of the best power on the team. He could technically go there and Mahan could hit third (if he continues to hit as well as he has). Hitting in front of Shelby should also protect Mahan. You also have Pompey with a good amount of power. Pompey has to grow up some, but he is dangerous. He could fit into that role and have Mahan hit 6th. Easiest might be to just move McNeil up and have him hitting cleanup.

 

[Derek Terry]

1-2-3 inning for Pop. Has two K's and allowed two hits through three innings.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I also think White is versatile and could be either a 2 or a 3 hole hitter. To some degree, he'll be better the more people on base. He could be an RBI machine given the opportunity.

Either way, that kind of compounds the problem with Henderson. We have a lot of guys with no real true defined roles. Listening to the pregame it seemed like no one was really pegged as the closer and that Strecker felt anyone could and should do that. I couldn't disagree more with that. I think it takes a special mindset to be a closer and that is something a pitching coach has to find before the year starts and make sure that the kid can handle that pressure.

 

[Derek Terry]

Mahan with a liner to score a run and make it 3-0. Runners on the corners and one out. McNeill up.

 

[Derek Terry]

McNeill hit a grounder back to the pitcher and Shelby was going on contact. Was out by a mile at home and tried to run over the catcher. Umpires discussing now whether he'll stay in the game.

EDIT: Shelby will stay in the game.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Not sure what all that extra stuff was about.

 

[Comebakatz3]

That was kind of a strange mix up, but the result seems to be the same. UK scores to make it 4-0

 

[Derek Terry]

Becker's liner into left field with two outs scores Mahan. Runners on 1st and 2nd with two down and UK leading 4-0.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Make that 6-0 after Pompey gets a double to score 2.

 

[Derek Terry]

52 pitches for Pop through four innings. 4 K's, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 R.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Hey Derek, what kind of crowd we got at the Cliff ?

 

[Derek Terry]

Hey Derek, what kind of crowd we got at the Cliff ?

Solid crowd. Probably 65 percent full or so. Not great at estimating but there are quite a few people here.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Pop gives up a leadoff double in the 5th. I think that might be the sign that he needs to be pulled. I'm not right very often though.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Back to back doubles given up by Pop. I think he should be done, but he has some room to work here. No real need to pull him with a 5 run lead. However, UK does need to be prepared to go to the pen here soon.

 

[Derek Terry]

Back-to-back doubles have Murray State on the board. 6-1 UK lead now. Henderson out to make a pitching change. Left-hander Dylan Dwyer entering the game.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Yep... Henderson takes the ball and will go to the pen to Dwyer. Would like to see Dwyer do well here. He came in with some high expectations. Would like to see him live up to those.

 

[Derek Terry]

Dwyer retires three straight batters. Pop's final line: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K's. He threw 61 pitches. ERA now at 1.08 through 8.1 IP.

 

[Derek Terry]

Shelby homers to right field to give UK a 7-1 lead.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Home run from SHELBY!!!!! Love to hear Price give the round tripper call!!

 

[Derek Terry]

Five innings complete at Cliff Hagan Stadium. UK leads 7-1.

 

[Derek Terry]

Three run double for Evan White. He's seeing the ball well right now. UK lead has ballooned to 10-1. Still no outs in the B6.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Evan White sends 3 home with a double down the line to make it 10-1! Gah that kid can hit!

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Evan White sends 3 home with a double down the line to make it 10-1! Gah that kid can hit!

He is seeing the ball about as well as anyone right now.

 

[Derek Terry]

6th inning comes to a close. Four runs on five hits for UK that inning. Lead 11-1.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Bo Wilson now on the mound. Getting some work hoping that he improves his confidence and he starts to hit his spots.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Wilson did a pretty solid job with the first two outs, but he is struggling a bit now. Walked one and then gave up a hit. Henderson now going to visit. Henderson did much better today, but still has a bit of work to do if he wants to end up the closer and beat Hjelle for the role,

 

[Comebakatz3]

Really don't like what Henderson is doing here. Throwing two guys that pitched yesterday, even though neither of them threw a whole lot of pitches. I'd rather see someone like Josh Smith gain some experience here in this situation.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Lol Henderson must be reading my posts. He pitched Smith and Tillo to finish the game.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Cats now 9-3 on the season with the 11-1 win over MSU. The weekend series with USC Upstate should be interesting !