Matt Rice bats for WKU: BluGrass Baseball photo

Recaps from an important Friday for Kentucky’s non-OVC teams:

• No. 9 University of Louisville shutout Georgetown 5-0 in game one of a three game series behind eight stellar innings from junior right-handed pitcher Thomas Royse. The Cards’ ace struck out 11, walked none and allowed just six hits in the game. Senior first baseman Andrew Clark led the charge at the plate with a 2-5 performance. Senior catcher Jeff Arnold also tallied two hits in the game.
• Western Kentucky University rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to record a come-from-behind 5-4 win over UALR. Junior catcher Matt Rice led the charge for the Hilltoppers with a 3-5 performance. Rice drove in two runs and scored once. Junior right-handed pitcher Matt Ridings allowed three runs, one of which  was earned, on four hits in seven and one-third innings. He struck out 10 and walked one. Senior right-handed reliever Bart Carter recorded the win after allowing one uneared run in one and two-third innings. (Box Score)
• The University of Kentucky wasted a strong offensive performance against one of the Southeastern Conference’s top pitchers in a 13-9 loss to South Carolina. Gamecocks ace Blake Cooper was 8-0 entering the game. Junior right fielder Lance Ray was 3-4 with two RBI and one run scored in the game, and six Cats tallied at least two hits in the game. Freshman left-handed pitcher Taylor Rogers took the loss after allowing eight runs, only three of which were earned. The Cats recorded five errors in the game. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: C Matt Rice (WKU)

• Stats: 3-5, 2 RBI, 1 R
• Honorable Mention: Andrew Clark (UofL), Lance Ray (UK), Jared Andreoli (WKU)

Pitcher of the day: RHP Thomas Royse (UofL)

• Stats: 1-0, 8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 SO
• Honorable Mention: Matt Ridings (WKU), Bart Carter (WKU)