Derek Self

BluGrass Baseball Pitching Leaderboard: May 10

College Baseball

In the second weekly leaderboard post we’ll look at the top pitching statistics through 10 weeks of the college baseball season. To be eligible for the ERA and batting average against categories, pitchers must have at least one inning per team game. Eligible players attend a Kentucky college or graduated from a Kentucky high school. Stats are current through Sunday’s games.

ERA

  • Derek Self — UofL — 1.25 (57.2)
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 1.58 (85.1 IP)
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 2.24 (80.1 IP)
  • Alex Meyer — UK — 2.98 (87.2 IP)
  • Chad Martin — Indiana (PLD) — 3.23 (64 IP)

Wins

  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 8-1
  • Jeremy Dobbs — Austin Peay (Daviess Co. HS) — 8-2
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 8-4
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 6-3
  • Jake Donze — Murray St. — 6-4
  • Stephen Hefler — EKU — 6-4

Strikeouts

  • Alex Meyer — UK — 96
  • Damon McCormick — Valpo (St. X) — 75
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 73
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 67
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 63

Innings Pitched

  • Damon McCormick — Valpo (St. X HS) — 88.0
  • Alex Meyer — UK — 87.2
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 85.1
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 80.1
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 80.0

Saves

  • Tony Zych — UofL — 11
  • Mike Kaczmarek — UK — 4
  • Cameron Finch — Murray St. — 4
  • Phil Wetherell — WKU — 4
  • Ryne Purcell — EKU — 4

Batting Average Against

  • Derek Self — UofL — .186
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — .187
  • Damon McCormick — Valpo (St. X) — .215
  • Alex Meyer — UK — .220
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — .232

Appearances

  • Phil Wetherell — WKU — 25
  • Nick Maronde — Florida (Lexington Catholic) — 24
  • Alex Phillips — UK — 23
  • Taylor Haydel — WKU — 22
  • Tony Zych — UofL — 22

Meyer, Deeds and Hageman win week 12 NCAA awards

College Baseball

Alex Meyer pitches versus Vanderbilt; BluGrass Baseball photo

It’s time for the weekly BluGrass Baseball college awards. Check out the best hitting, pitching and freshman performances below:

Hitter of the week: INF/OF Andrew Deeds (Morehead St.)

  • Stats: 8-14 (.571), 3 2Bs, 1 3B, 5 R, 3 RBI, 2 BBs, 1 SB
  • Honorable Mention: Kes Carter (WKU), Jared Andreoli (WKU), Adam Engel (UofL), Thomas McCarthy (UK), Dustin Dunlop (EKU), Taylor Davis (Morehead St.)
Pitcher of the week: RHP Alex Meyer (UK)
  • Stats: 1-0, 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Justin Hageman (WKU), Brian Edelen (WKU), Justin Amlung (UofL), Derek Self (UofL), Chad Green (UofL), Travis Tingle (UofL), Jordan Cooper (UK), Stephen Hefler (EKU), Greg Terry (EKU), Bryan Babin (Murray St.), Matthew Robertson (Morehead St.)
Freshman of the week: RHP Justin Hageman (WKU)
  • Stats: 1-0, 9 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Jordan Cessna (WKU), Adam Engel (UofL), Chad Green (UofL), Bryan Soloman (EKU), Tyler Saltsman (Murray St.), Bud Morton (Morehead St.)

BluGrass Baseball Week 12 Weekend Schedule

College Baseball

Check out the week 12 weekend schedule below with probable pitchers listed when available:

Western Kentucky University (27-18) vs. Florida Atlantic

  • Friday — 6 p.m. (CT) — LHP Tanner Perkins (6-2, 2.07 ERA) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — 12 p.m. (CT) — RHP Justin Hageman (7-4, 3.42 ERA)
  • Sunday — 12 p.m. (CT) — TBA

University of Louisville (25-18) vs. Seton Hall

  • Thursday — 1-0 L (18 inn) — RHP Derek Self (9.1 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) — Box Score
  • Friday — 4 p.m. — RHP Justin Amlung (8-0, 1.64 ERA) — Gametracker
  • Saturday — 11 a.m. — TBA — Gametracker

University of Kentucky (20-25) vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt

  • Friday — 6 p.m. — RHP Alex Meyer (4-5, 3.32 ERA) — Gametracker
  • Saturday — 7 p.m. — LHP Corey Littrell (5-4, 5.80 ERA) — Gametracker
  • Sunday — TBA — Gametracker

Murray State University (16-26) @ Eastern Kentucky University (16-29)

  • Saturday — 1 p.m. — RHP Tyler Beers (3-6, 5.95 ERA) vs. RHP Stephen Hefler (5-4, 3.74 ERA) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — GM 2 (DH) — LHP Jake Donze (6-3, 4.26 ERA) vs. TBA
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. — LHP Luke Shuemaker (3-4, 6.93 ERA) vs. TBA
Morehead State University (7-33) @ UT Martin

  • Saturday — 2 p.m. — RHP Trey Smith (0-9, 8.10 ERA) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — GM 2 (DH) — LHP Garrick Whittle (2-3, 8.96 ERA)
  • Sunday — 2 p.m. — LHP Noah Smallwood (1-5, 9.23 ERA)

BluGrass Baseball NCAA Week 12 preview

College Baseball

Justin Riddell; BluGrass Baseball photo

Series of the week: Western Kentucky University vs. Florida Atlantic

Western Kentucky University (27-18, 12-9) welcomes Florida Atlantic to Bowling Green this weekend. The Hilltoppers sit in fifth place in the conference but are just three games out of first place. Florida Atlantic and two other teams are tied in second place, one game ahead of WKU. WKU has lost five of its last seven games but still has a chance to play its way into a NCAA tournament at-large bid. The marquee mound matchup of the series will likely come on Saturday when WKU freshman right-handed pitcher Justin Hageman (7-4, 3.42 ERA) takes on Florida Atlantic junior right-handed pitcher Paul Davis (8-1, 2.72 ERA).

Player to watch: RHP Alex Meyer (UK)

The best pitching matchup in the nation this weekend will likely be in Lexington Friday night when University of Kentucky junior right-handed pitch Alex Meyer takes on Vanderbilt junior right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray. Both pitchers are likely to be first-round picks in the June MLB draft. Meyer has been one of the few bright spots for UK this season and is 4-5 with a 3.32 ERA on the year. Meyer and Gray rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the Southeastern Conference in strikeouts with 91 and 86 respectively. Gray leads the league in wins, ranks second in opponents’ batting average and fifth in ERA. Meyer ranks third in the conference in innings pitched.

Stat of the week: Crazy UofL Friday night game

This week’s stat is technically from week 12 baseball, but we couldn’t pass up the chance to note some more odd stats from the University of Louisville‘s 1-0, 18-inning loss to Seton Hall Thursday night. The two teams played the equivalent of just under two complete games of scoreless baseball. UofL junior right-handed pitcher Derek Self and Seton Hall pitcher Joe Dirocco each pitched at least nine scoreless innings but didn’t get a complete game or a win. Cards’ batters not named Adam Engel combined to go 1-47 in the game. Two different UofL pitchers for each team lasted long enough to qualify for a win if they were making a start. Five different batters in the game failed to record a hit in at least six at-bats.

Out-of-state Ky. collegian to watch: OF Justin Riddell (Cincinnati)

Lexington Catholic alum Justin Riddell will attempt to lead Cincinnati to what could amount to a Big East Tournament berth clinching series win versus West Virginia this weekend. Cincinnati is currently seventh in the conference but is 2.5 games up in the race for the eighth and final tournament berth. Riddell has been the best former Kentucky high school batter playing outside the state this season. He is batting .342 with six home runs, 50 RBIs and 20 runs scored on the season. His six home runs, 50 RBIs and .544 slugging percentage lead Bearcats’ hitters.

UofL losses marathon pitchers’ duel; Green sent to AAA

College Baseball, Major League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo by Scott Ableman via Flickr

Highlights from Thursday’s lone Kentucky college baseball game as well as the latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • After playing the equivalent of almost two complete scoreless games, the University of Louisville surrendered one run in the bottom of the 18th inning to suffer a 1-0 loss to Seton Hall. Freshman right-handed pitcher Jeff Thompson took the loss after surrendering one unearned run on two hits in two and one-third innings. Freshman center fielder Adam Engel was 3-7 in the game, while the rest of the UofL offense was just 1-49. Junior right-handed pitcher Derek Self accomplished the rare feat of pitching over nine innings but not being credited with a complete game. Self surrendered seven hits in nine and one-third innings while striking out two batters and walking none. Freshman right-handed pitcher Chad Green pitched five and two-third innings of relief. (Box Score)
  • Guy Curtright of MLB.com reports the Milwaukee Brewers have optioned Louisville native and former UofL right-handed pitcher Sean Green to AAA Nashville.
  • Jonathan Kleppinger of the Jessamine Journal reports the lawyers for Lexington native and Cleveland Indians outfielder Austin Kearns filed a motion in Jessamine County to dismiss the drunk-driving charges against Kearns resulting from his Feb. 12 arrest because the Lexington police officer who pulled him over was out of his jurisdiction.
  • Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports the Texas Rangers scratched Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb from his scheduled Thursday start in extended spring training, option to have the former Cy Young award winner work on his mechanics during a bullpen session instead.

BluGrass Baseball Pitching Leaderboard: May 4

College Baseball

In the second weekly leaderboard post we’ll look at the top pitching statistics through 10 weeks of the college baseball season. To be eligible for the ERA and batting average against categories, pitchers must have at least one inning per team game. Eligible players attend a Kentucky college or graduated from a Kentucky high school. Stats are current through Tuesday’s games.

ERA

  • Derek Self — UofL — 1.49 (48.1)
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 1.64 (76.2 IP)
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 2.07 (74.0 IP)
  • Alex Meyer — UK — 3.32 (78.2 IP)
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 3.42 (71.0 IP)

Wins

  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 8-0
  • Jeremy Dobbs — Austin Peay (Daviess Co. HS) — 8-2
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 7-4
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 6-2
  • Jake Donze — Murray St. — 6-3

Strikeouts

  • Alex Meyer — UK — 91
  • Damon McCormick — Valpo (St. X) — 72
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 69
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 63
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 60

Innings Pitched

  • Damon McCormick — Valpo (St. X HS) — 79.0
  • Alex Meyer — UK — 78.2
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 76.2
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 74.0
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 71.0

Saves

  • Tony Zych — UofL — 11
  • Mike Kaczmarek — UK — 4
  • Cameron Finch — Murray St. — 4
  • Phil Wetherell — WKU — 4
  • Ryne Purcell — EKU — 4

Batting Average Against

  • Derek Self — UofL — .182
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — .191
  • Damon McCormick — Valpo (St. X) — .211
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — .221
  • Alex Meyer — UK — .225

Appearances

  • Nick Maronde — Florida (Lexington Catholic) — 23
  • Phil Wetherell — WKU — 22
  • Alex Phillips — UK — 22
  • Taylor Haydel — WKU — 21
  • Matt Harris — EKU — 20
  • Trevor Gott — UK — 20
  • Tony Zych — UofL — 20

Bryan Soloman and Brian Edelen win week 11 awards

College Baseball

Bryan Soloman; BluGrass Baseball photo

It’s time for the weekly college baseball awards. Check out the best hitting, pitching and freshman performances from week 11 below:

Hitter of the week: 3B Bryan Soloman (EKU)

  • Stats: 9-17 (.529), 2 HR, 3 2Bs, 6 RBI, 3 R
  • Honorable Mention: Jared Andreoli (WKU), Ryan Huck (WKU), Stewart Ijames (UofL), Ryan Wright (UofL), Chad Wright (UK), Brandon Elliott (Murray St.), Eric Bainer (Morehead St.), Taylor Davis (Morehead St.)
Pitcher of the week: RHP Brian Edelen (WKU)
  • Stats: 1-0, 1 SV, 2 G, 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Tanner Perkins (WKU), Justin Hageman (WKU), Derek Self (UofL), Justin Amlung (UofL), Alex Meyer (UK), Jordan Cooper (UK), Tyler Beers (Murray St.), Stephen Hefler (EKU)
Freshman of the week: 3B Bryan Soloman (EKU)
  • Stats: 9-17 (.529), 2 HR, 3 2Bs, 6 RBI, 3 R
  • Honorable Mention: Chad Green (UofL), Justin Hageman (WKU)

NCAA roundup: UofL rallies for late win; WKU, UK lose

College Baseball

Stewart Ijames and Ryan Wright look on from the UofL dugout; BluGrass Baseball photo

Recaps and highlights from Friday Kentucky college baseball action:

  • Western Kentucky University held a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning but surrendered single runs over the final three frames, culminated by a walk-off home run in the ninth inning, give Louisiana Monroe a 5-4 win in game one of a three-game series. Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Ross Hammonds took the loss after surrendering two runs on two hits in one and one-third innings. Junior right fielder Ryan Hutchinson was 2-4 with one RBI, one run scored and one walk. The Hilltoppers wasted a quality start from sophomore left-handed pitcher Tanner Perkins, who surrendered three runs on nine hits in seven innings while striking out seven batters and walking one. (Box Score)
  • The University of Louisville rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn a 3-2 win over Georgetown. Redshirt junior right fielder Stewart Ijames and senior catcher J. J. Ethel tallied RBI in the eighth inning rally, and junior second baseman Ryan Wright was 2-3 with one RBI, one run scored an one walk. Freshman right-handed pitcher Cody Edge was credited with the win after recording the final out in the top of the eighth inning, but junior right-handed pitcher Derek Self pitched well in his second start. Self surrendered two runs, one of which was earned, on five hits in seven and two-third innings while striking out four batters and walking none. Junior right-handed pitcher Tony Zych pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 11th save. (Box Score)
  • The University of Kentucky like saw any remaining post season hopes dashed with a series-clinching 12-4 win by LSU in game two of the three-game series. Freshman left-handed pitcher Corey Littrell took the loss after surrendering five runs, two of which were earned, on four hits in one and two-third innings. The Cats surrendered five unearned runs in the game and committed four errors. Junior left-fielder Chad Wright was the only UK batter with multiple hits in the game, finishing 2-3 with one RBI, one run scored and one walk. Redshirt senior utility man Neiko Johnson tallied his first hit since returning from injury with a two-run double in the ninth inning. (Box Score)
Hitter of the day: LF Chad Wright
  • Stats: 2-3, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
  • Honorable Mention: Ryan Hutchinson (WKU), Matt Rice (WKU), Ryan Wright (UofL)
Pitcher of the day: RHP Derek Self (UofL)
  • Stats: 7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Tanner Perkins (WKU)

BluGrass Baseball Week 11 Weekend Schedule

College Baseball

Kentucky kicked off the Week 11 weekend schedule with its Thursday game versus LSU. Check out the rest week 11 weekend schedule below with probable starters listed when available.

Western Kentucky University (25-16, 10-8) @ Louisiana-Monroe

  • Friday — 6 p.m. (CT) — LHP Tanner Perkins (6-2, 1.88 ERA) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — 6 p.m. (CT) — RHP Justin Hageman (6-4, 3.23 ERA) — Live Stats
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. (CT) — TBA — Live Stats

University of Louisville (22-18, 8-7) vs. Georgetown

  • Friday — 6 p.m. (CT) — RHP Derek Self (2-1, 1.55 ERA) — Gametracker
  • Saturday — 1 p.m. (CT) — RHP Justin Amlung (7-0, 1.42 ERA) — Gametracker
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. (CT) — RHP Jeff Thompson (1-0, 2.67 ERA) — Gametracker
University of Kentucky (20-23, 4-15) @ LSU
  • Friday — 7:30 p.m. — RHP Alex Meyer (4-5, 3.32 ERA) — 9-5 L — Box Score
  • Saturday — 8 p.m. — LHP Corey Littrell (5-3, 5.64 ERA) — Live Stats
  • Sunday — 2 p.m. — LHP Taylor Rogers (2-5, 5.16 ERA) — Live Stats

Murray State University (14-23, 5-5) vs. Southeast Missouri

  • Saturday — 12 p.m. (CT) — RHP Tyler Beers (3-5, 6.19 ERA)
  • Saturday — GM 2 (DH) — LHP Jake Donze (6-2, 3.69 ERA)
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. (CT) — TBA

Eastern Kentucky University (14-27, 6-9) @ Tennessee Tech

  • Saturday — 1 p.m. — RHP Chris Hord (1-1, 5.40 ERA)
  • Saturday — Gm 2 (DH) — LHP Kyle McGrath (3-3, 6.65 ERA)
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. — RHP Stephen Hefler (4-4, 3.73 ERA)
Morehead State University (7-30, 3-7) vs. Austin Peay
  • Saturday — 1 p.m. — RHP Trey Smith (0-8, 7.62 ERA) vs. LHP Jeremy Dobbs (7-2, 4.05 ERA) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — GM 2 (DH) — LHP Garrick Whittle (2-3, 8.54 ERA) vs. LHP Jack Snodgrass (1-5, 3.57 ERA)
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. — LHP Noah Smallwood (1-4, 8.19 ERA)

BluGrass Baseball Pitching Leaderboard: April 26

College Baseball

In the second weekly leaderboard post we’ll look at the top pitching statistics through 10 weeks of the college baseball season. To be eligible for the ERA and batting average against categories, pitchers must have at least one inning per team game. Eligible players attend a Kentucky college or graduated from a Kentucky high school. Stats are current through Sunday’s games.

ERA

  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 1.42 (69.2 IP)
  • Derek Self — UofL — 1.55 (40.2)
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 1.88 (67.0 IP)
  • Chad Martin — Indiana (PLD) — 3.19 (53.2 IP)
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 3.23 (64.0 IP)

Wins

  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 7-0
  • Jeremy Dobbs — Austin Peay (Daviess Co. HS) — 7-2
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 6-2
  • Jake Donze — Murray St. — 6-2
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 6-4

Strikeouts

  • Alex Meyer — UK — 81
  • Damon McCormick — Valpo (St. X) — 66
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 63
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 56
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 53

Innings Pitched

  • Damon McCormick — Valpo (St. X HS) — 72.0
  • Alex Meyer — UK — 71.2
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — 69.2
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — 67.0
  • Justin Hageman — WKU — 64.0

Saves

  • Tony Zych — UofL — 10
  • Mike Kaczmarek — UK — 4
  • Cameron Finch — Murray St. — 4
  • Phil Wetherell — WKU — 4
  • Ryne Purcell — EKU — 4

Batting Average Against

  • Derek Self — UofL — .181
  • Justin Amlung — UofL — .187
  • Tanner Perkins — WKU — .210
  • Damon McCormick — Valpo (St. X) — .216
  • Alex Meyer — UK — .230

Appearances

  • Phil Wetherell — WKU — 21
  • Alex Phillips — UK — 20
  • Taylor Haydell — WKU — 20
  • Nick Maronde — Florida (Lexington Catholic) — 20
  • Matt Harris — EKU — 19
  • Trevor Gott — UK — 19
  • Tony Zych — UofL — 19