Braden Kapteyn; UK Athletics photo

Recaps and highlights from Friday Kentucky college baseball action:

• The University of Louisville suffered its first poor outing of the season from a weekend starting pitcher in an 11-9 loss to Xavier. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Matt Koch took the loss after surrendering eight runs, six of which were earned, on seven hits in three innings while striking out one batter and walking three. The Cards offense scored multiple runs in the third, sixth, seventh and ninth innings but could never pull closer than two runs of Xavier. UofL redshirt junior right fielder Stewart Ijames was 2-5 with one double, one triple, two RBI and one run scored. Bishop Brossart alum and Xavier redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Nate Mutsch surrendered two hits in a scoreless inning of relief. (Box Score)
• Western Kentucky University used another strong start from sophomore ace Tanner Perkins to earn a 5-2 win over Middle Tennessee in its Sun Belt Conference opener. Perkins improved to 4-1 on the season after surrendering two runs, one of which was earned, on five hits in eight innings while striking out a career-high 10 batters and walking none. Both junior shortstop Logan Robbins and junior right fielder Ryan Hutchinson tallied three hits in the game, and junior center fielder Kes Carter drove in two runs. Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Ross Hammonds picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning. (Box Score)
• The University of Kentucky scored five unanswered runs to rally from a 3-0 deficit for a 5-3 win over Tennessee in its Southeastern Conference opener. The rally was highlighted by a two-run home run from junior designated hitter Braden Kapteyn in the 7th inning that proved to be the winning run. Junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer earned the win after surrendering three runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits in seven innings while striking out seven batters and walking two. Kapteyn was 2-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored at the plate and struck out three batters in two perfect innings of relief to earn his first save of the season. Junior shortstop Taylor Black was 3-4 with two runs scored. (Box Score)
• Murray State University surrendered multiple runs in each of the first three innings and could not climb out of its early hole in a 17-6 loss to Georgia State. Murray St. senior left-handed pitcher Jake Donze took the loss after surrendering eight runs on nine hits in three innings while striking out three batters and walking one. Junior outfielder Cody Larson was 3-4 with two doubles, one triple, three RBI and three runs scored, and senior center fielder Elliot Frey was 2-3 with two RBI. (Box Score)
• A five-run sixth inning by Indiana St. broke open what had been a scoreless tie and sent Eastern Kentucky University to a 10-3 loss in game one of a three-game series. EKU redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Matt Fyffe took the loss after surrendering seven runs, four of which were earned, on seven hits in six and two-third innings while striking out six batters and walking three. EKU senior center fielder Ryan Faidley was 2-3 with one walk and one run scored, and sophomore second baseman Matt Phipps was 2-3 with one walk. Faidley and Phipps were the only EKU batters with multiple hits in the game. The loss dropped EKU to 0-7 on the road this season. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: OF/1B Cody Larson (Murray St.)

• Stats: 3-4, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 2Bs, 1 3B
• Honorable Mention: Stewart Ijames (UofL), Alex Chittenden (UofL), Elliot Frey (Murray St.), Logan Robbins (WKU), Ryan Hutchinson (WKU), Braden Kapteyn (UK), Taylor Black (UK), Ryan Faidley (EKU), Matt Phipps (EKU)

Pitcher of the day: LHP Tanner Perkins (WKU)

• Stats: 1-0, 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO
• Honorable Mention: Travis Tingle (UofL), Alex Meyer (UK), Braden Kapteyn (UK)