Jeff Thompson

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)

NCAA roundup: WKU beats UK; UofL, EKU, Murray St. lose

College Baseball

Recaps and highlights from Tuesday Kentucky college baseball action:

  • You can read the recap of Western Kentucky University‘s 11-8 win over the University of Kentucky here.
  • The University of Louisville outhit Indiana 9-7 but still dropped its sixth consecutive game with a 5-3 loss. Freshman right-handed pitcher Chad Green took the loss after surrendering two runs on one hit in two and one-third innings. Junior infielder Ryan Wright and redshirt junior right fielder Stewart Ijames were both 2-4. Freshman outfielder Cole Sturgeon and sophomore third baseman Cade Stallings tallied the only RBI for UofL. Freshman right-handed pitcher Jeff Thompson pitched three scoreless innings in the start. (Box Score)
  • Evansville scored seven runs in the first two innings to send Murray State University to an 8-3 loss. Freshman right-handed pitcher Tyler Saltsman took the loss after surrendering seven runs on seven hits in one-plus inning. Junior catcher Jacob Rhodes was 3-4 with two RBI, and freshman second baseman Wes Warren was 2-3. Junior first baseman Cody Larson slugged his second home run of the season. The Murray St. bullpen surrendered just one unearned run over the final eight innings. (Box Score)
  • Eastern Kentucky University snapped its four-game winning streak with a 4-2 loss to Marshall. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Anthony Bazzani took the loss after surrendering two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Junior right fielder Michael Garcia was 2-3 with one walk and one RBI and was the only Colonel with multiple hits in the game. Freshman right-handed pitcher Blake Bottoms surrendered three hits in three innings in his first collegiate start. (Box Score)
Hitter of the day: C Matt Rice (WKU)
  • Stats: 4-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4 R
  • Honorable Mention: Kes Carter (WKU), Logan Robbins (WKU), Ryan Wright (UofL), Stewart Ijames (UofL), Taylor Black (UK), Luke Maile (UK), Jacob Rhodes (Murray St.), Michael Garcia (EKU)
Pitcher of the day: RHP Jordan Cooper (UK)
  • Stats: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Ross Hammonds (WKU), Jeff Thompson (UofL), Bryan Babin (Murray St.), Blake Bottoms (EKU)

BluGrass Baseball Midweek Schedule: April 19

College Baseball

Check out the Week 10 midweek schedule, highlighted by the WKU/UK matchup, below with probable pitchers listed when available:

Tuesday

  • 3 p.m. — Eastern Kentucky University @ Marshall — RHP Blake Bottoms (0-0, 10.80 ERA) — Live Stats
  • 6 p.m. — University of Louisville (20-15) vs. Indiana — RHP Jeff Thompson (1-0, 2.82 ERA) — Gametracker
  • 6 p.m. (CT) — Western Kentucky University (24-13) vs. University of Kentucky (17-20) — RHP Taylor Haydel (5-3, 6.77 ERA) vs. RHP Jordan Cooper (2-1, 5.23 ERA)
  • 6 p.m. (CT) — Murray State University (13-21) @ Evansville — TBA — Live Stats

Wednesday

  • 3:05 p.m. — Morehead State University @ Indiana — BigTenNetwork.com

UK scores one run in 9th inning to earn 3-2 win over UofL

Uncategorized

Jordan Cooper; UK Athletics photo

The University of Kentucky scored a single run in the ninth inning on a RBI single from senior shortstop Taylor Black to earn a 3-2 win over the University of Louisville. UK junior left fielder Chad Wright doubled with one out in the top of the ninth inning then moved to third on a wild pitch from UofL junior closer Tony Zych. Black then lined the first pitch he saw into right field to put UK ahead. UK freshman right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott was credited with the win after recording the final out of the eighth inning prior to the Cats’ rally.

UK jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning. Wright reached on an error by UofL freshman right-handed pitcher Jeff Gardner to start the game then moved to second on a single from Black. Gardner hit UK junior designated hitter Braden Kapteyn with a pitch to load the bases before UK freshman right fielder J. T. Riddle drove Wright home with a single. Black then scored on a double-play from UK junior third baseman Thomas McCarthy.

UofL got on the board in the sixth inning when sophomore designated hitter Kyle Grieshaber doubled with one out and then scored on a single from redshirt junior right fielder Stewart Ijames. The Cards tied the game in the seventh inning when sophomore third baseman Cade Stallings led off the inning with a single and later scored on a groundout from freshman shortstop Alex Chittenden.

UK sophomore right-handed pitcher Jordan Cooper took a no decision despite surrendering two runs, one of which was earned, on five hits in six and one-third innings while striking out two batters and walking three. Thompson surrendered two unearned runs on seven hits in three and two-third innings in the start for UofL. Cards junior right-handed pitcher Derek Self took the loss after surrendering one run in one and two-third innings. Wright and Black were both 3-4 in the game for UK. (Box Score)

Player of the game — SS Taylor Black (UK) — 3-4, 1 RBI, 1 R

BluGrass Baseball Midweek Schedule: April 12

College Baseball

Check out the midweek schedule below highlighted by the first UK/UofL matchup of the season:

Tuesday

  • 5 p.m. — Morehead State University vs. Marshall — LHP Noah Smallwood (0-3, 9.08 ERA) — Live Stats
  • 6 p.m. — University of Louisville (20-11) vs. University of Kentucky (16-17) — RHP Jeff Thompson (1-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP Jordan Cooper (2-1, 5.89 ERA) — Gametracker — Wazoo Sports (TV)
  • 6 p.m. (CT) — Western Kentucky University (20-12) @ Austin Peay — RHP Taylor Haydel (3-2, 7.08 ERA) — Live Stats

Wednesday

  • 6 p.m. — Eastern Kentucky University @ Ohio — Live Stats
  • 6 p.m. (CT) — WKU vs. Murray State University (13-17) — Live Stats

Davis, Amlung, Hageman win midseason NCAA awards

College Baseball

Yesterday we looked at the BluGrass Baseball midseason all-state team. Today it is time to examine the best individual hitting, pitching and freshmen performances through half of the NCAA season. When possible at least one honorable mention nominee is included from each team.

Taylor Davis; Morehead St. photo

Best hitter: C Taylor Davis (Morehead St.)

  • Stats: .381/.487/.732, 8 HR, 27 RBI, 24 R, 2 SBs
  • Morehead State University junior catcher Taylor Davis was behind WKU senior Matt Rice on the Kentucky catching depth chart entering the season, but he has been the state’s best college hitter through 28 games for Morehead St. Through seven weeks of the season, Davis leads Kentucky collegians in home runs and slugging percentage and ranks second in on-base percentage, fourth in batting average and fifth in RBI. Davis was named to the preseason all-Ohio Valley Conference team and will spend the summer of 2011 in the prestigious Cape Cod League.
  • Honorable Mention: Ryan Wright (UofL), Matt Rice (WKU), Jared Andreoli (WKU), Braden Kapteyn (UK), Brandon Elliott (Murray St.), Jacob Daniel (EKU), Richie Rodriguez (EKU), Andrew Deeds (Morehead St.)

Best pitcher: RHP Justin Amlung (UofL)

  • Stats: 6-0, 0.92 ERA, 33 SO/10 BB, 48.2 IP
  • The midseason best pitcher race is a highly contested battle between University of Louisville redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Justin Amlung and WKU sophomore left-handed pitcher Tanner Perkins. Amlung wins the honor for his undefeated record and lower ERA. The St. X alum has won all but one of his starts and ranks No. 3  in the country in wins and No. 10 in ERA. Amlung leads Kentucky collegians in ERA, wins, winning percentage and batting average against and ranks second in innings pitched.
  • Honorable Mention: Mike Nastold (UofL), Matt Koch (UofL), Tanner Perkins (WKU), Justin Hageman (WKU), Alex Meyer (UK), Jake Donze (Murray St.), Stephen Hefler (EKU)

Best freshman: RHP/DH Justin Hageman (WKU)

  • Stats: 4-3, 3.00 ERA, 40 SO/17 BB, 42 IP
  • Each of the state’s top three college teams counted on freshmen in key roles during the first half of the season, but Western Kentucky University freshman right-handed pitcher Justin Hageman stood out above the pack. Hageman, who has pitched in the Hilltoppers’ weekend rotations since the opening series of 2011, has looked like anything but a freshman. Hageman ranks fourth among Kentucky collegians in wins and strikeouts. During a brief run as the WKU designated hitter, Hageman was 6-15 (.400) with four RBI and two runs scored in five games.
  • Honorable Mention: Ryan Seiz (UofL), Chad Green (UofL), Jeff Thompson (UofL), Scott Wilcox (WKU), J. T. Riddle (UK), Corey Littrell (UK), Brandon Eggenschwiler (Murray St.), Bryan Soloman (EKU)

Rhodes, Perkins, Littrell named week seven award winners

College Baseball

Jacob Rhodes; BluGrass Baseball photo

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

Hitter of the week: C Jacob Rhodes (Murray St.)

  • Stats: 8-13 (.615), 1 HR, 1 2B, 8 RBI, 3 R, 5 BB
  • Honorable Mention: Kes Carter (WKU), Ryan Hutchinson (WKU), Matt Rice (WKU), Jeff Gardner (UofL), Braden Kapteyn (UK), Ty Stetson (Murray St.), Brandon Eggenscwhiler (Murray St.), Jacob Daniel (EKU), Bryan Soloman (EKU), Andrew Deeds (Morehead St.)

Pitcher of the week: LHP Tanner Perkins (WKU)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Justin Hageman (WKU), Mike Nastold (UofL), Justin Amlung (UofL), Jeff Thompson (UofL), Corey Littrell (UK), Taylor Rogers (UK), Alex Meyer (UK), Bryan Babin (Murray St.), Tyler Beers (Murray St.), Stephen Hefler (EKU)

Freshman of the week: RHP Corey Littrell (UK)

  • Stats: 1-0, 2 G, 9 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Justin Hageman (WKU), Jeff Gardner (UofL), Jeff Thompson (UofL), Ty Stetson (Murray St.), Brandon Eggenschwiler (Murray St.), Bryan Soloman (EKU)

College roundup: UofL wins intra-state game vs. WKU; UK, Murray St., Morehead St. win midweek games; EKU loses

College Baseball

Taylor Black; UK Athletics Photo

Recaps and highlights from Tuesday Kentucky college baseball action:

  • You can read the BluGrass Baseball recap of the University of Louisville‘s 3-1 win over Western Kentucky University here.
  • The University of Kentucky scored eight unanswered runs to start the game and then held off a late Tennessee Tech rally to secure an 11-8 win. Freshman left-handed pitcher Corey Littrell earned the win after surrendering two hits in three scoreless innings while striking out three batters and walking none. Senior shortstop Taylor Black was 4-4 with two doubles and four runs scored, and junior designated hitter Braden Kapteyn was 3-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Sophomore catcher Luke Maile slugged his second home run of the season and drove in three runs, and freshman second baseman J. T. Riddle was 2-3 with three RBI and one run scored. (Box Score)
  • Marshall scored three runs in the ninth inning to send Eastern Kentucky University to an 8-5 loss at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Junior right-handed pitcher Matt Harris took the loss after surrendering three unearned runs on two hits in two innings while striking out three batters and walking none. Senior designated hitter Bryce Labhart was 2-2 with one walk and two runs scored for EKU, and junior right fielder Michael Garcia was 2-3 with two RBI. Junior shortstop Richie Rodriguez also had two RBI in the game. (Box Score)
  • Murray State University jumped out to an early lead and held on for a rain-shortened 5-2 win in five innings over Southern Illinois. Junior left-handed pitcher Bryan Babin earned the win after surrendering two runs, one of which was earned on five hits in five innings while striking out two batters and walking three. Redshirt freshman Ty Stetson was 2-2 with one walk, one RBI and one run scored, and sophomore shortstop Brandon Elliott was 2-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Senior center fielder Elliot Frey scored two runs. (Box Score)
  • Morehead State University scored two runs in the eighth inning to secure a 6-5 win over West Virginia. Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Josh Schneider earned the win after recording the final two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and junior right-handed pitcher Matt Cartwright recorded the final six outs of the game without recording an out to earn the save. Junior center fielder Andrew Deeds was 2-5 with one RBI and two runs scored, and junior catcher Eric Bainer was 2-4 with three RBI and one run scored. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: SS Taylor Black (UK)

  • Stats: 4-4, 2 2Bs, 4 R, 1 BB
  • Honorable Mention: Alex Chittenden (UofL), Jared Andreoli (WKU), Braden Kapteyn (UK), J. T. Riddle (UK), Luke Maile (UK), Ty Stetson (Murray St.), Brandon Elliott (Murray St.), Bryce Labhart (EKU), Eric Bainer (Morehead St.)

Pitcher of the day: RHP Jeff Thompson (UofL)

  • Stats: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Corey Littrell (UK), Bryan Babin (Murray St.), Anthony Bazzani (EKU), Noah Smallwood (Morehead St)

UofL surrenders just four hits in 3-1 win over WKU

College Baseball

The University of Louisville scored single runs in the seventh an eighth innings to break open a 1-1 tie en route to a 3-1 win over Western Kentucky University. UofL took the lead in the seventh inning when freshman shortstop Alex Chittenden singled home freshman pinch runner Adam Engel. The Cards added an insurance run in the eighth inning when freshman center fielder Cole Sturgeon scored on a sacrifice fly from junior second baseman Ryan Wright. UofL junior right-handed pitcher Derek Self earned the win after pitching one and one-third scoreless innings, and junior right-handed pitcher Tony Zych earned his seventh save after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

WKU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when sophomore first baseman Ryan Huck singled home junior right fielder Ryan Hutchinson. WKU Sophomore right-handed pitcher Taylor Haydel took the loss after surrendering two runs in two innings of relief. Junior right-handed pitcher Phil Wetherell surrendered one run on two hits in four innings while striking out five batters and walking none in his first start of the season. WKU junior left fielder Jared Andreoli was the only Hilltopper with multiple hits and finished the game 2-5. UofL freshman third baseman Ty Young was 2-4 with a run scored, and Chittenden was 2-3 with one RBI. (Box Score)

Player of the game: RHP Jeff Thompson (UofL) — 5.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO

BluGrass Baseball Midweek Schedule: March 29

College Baseball

It’s time for the BluGrass Baseball week six midweek schedule:

Tuesday

  • 3 p.m. — Eastern Kentucky University vs. Marshall (Whitaker Bank Ballpark) — RHP Anthony Bazzani (0-5, 12.23 ERA) — Live Stats
  • 3 p.m. (CT) — Murray State University (9-13) vs. Southern Illinois — LHP Bryan Babin (1-1, 6.75 ERA)
  • 4 p.m. — University of Kentucky (14-11) vs. Tennessee Tech — LHP Corey Littrell (3-1, 5.72 ERA) — Gametracker
  • 6 p.m. — University of Louisville (15-8) vs. Western Kentucky University (16-7) — RHP Jeff Thompson (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Phil Wetherell (0-1, 4.35 ERA) — Gametracker
  • 6 p.m. — Morehead State University (4-19) @ West Virginia — LHP Noah Smallwood (0-2, 10.04 ERA)

Wednesday

  • 6 p.m. (CT) — WKU vs. Belmont — RHP Rye Davis (1-2, 6.60 ERA)