@CoachRyanKY🦉
LEXINGTON-Sunday showcased a rubber-match from the sun drenched Kentucky Proud Park. The “Big Blue Mist’ would descend through the gates, filling the stands to find out which team would emerge victorious in this series rubber match featuring two top-ten ranked teams.
The Bat Cats jumped out to an early lead thanks to the aluminum wielding prowess of Émilien Pitre, who sent a “Big Blue Bomb” barreling over the fence in Right-Center to give Kentucky an early one run advantage. Pitre, not usually known for his power hitting, followed with another RBI his next turn at the plate. Those were extra special for him I am sure, as this weekend is the first time the Quebec-native’s parents had seen him play Collegiate Baseball in Person.
Nick Lopez added a “Big Blue Bomb” of his own, going deep over the Right Field wall. The rocket barely stayed fair but it was good for three runs from the Cats. Kentucky usually is a small-ball style of team, but obviously they did not get the memo about that today. The Bat Cats more resembled the infamous “murderer’s row” of hitters that were the 1927 New York Yankees.
Fun Fact: Earle Combs, a member of the Yankee’s Murderers Row of 1927, is a Kentuckian. He was born in Pebworth, Kentucky which is located in Owsley County. After his baseball career, he served as Happy Chandler’s banking commissioner. The more you know.
Not to be outdone, Nick Mingione’s “ace”-Mason Moore had an impressive showing. Moore allowed ZERO hits through four innings, fanning five in the process.
After the Pitching struggles of recent, Kentucky responded nicely in weekend play with two “gems” thrown by Dominic Niman on Saturday and Moore on Sunday. Moore said, “When we put up seven runs against a team like that, it kind of makes throwing a little easier when you’re out there.”
Kentucky will return to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon with a mid-week road matchup at Xavier University in Cincinnati. This series win was pivotal for their Omaha and SEC Championship aspirations as they dropped the previous two against South Carolina and Tennessee. Nick Minigone’s squad showed a lot of resilience in responding to Friday’s tough pitching matchup against Left-Hander Hagen Smith from the Razorbacks. Good stuff.
My player of the game: Well no one asked, but that belongs to Émilien Pitre.
Kentucky- 7/9/0/6
Arkansas- 4/7/1/11
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