Mississippi Baseball

Week five weekend highlights: University of Kentucky

College Baseball
Alex Meyer; BluGrass Baseball photo

Alex Meyer; BluGrass Baseball photo

The University of Kentucky faced its stiffest competition to date with three games against No. 21 Mississippi this weekend, and the Cats performance against the Rebels didn’t measure up to their previous 2010 performance. UK finished the weekend 1-2, but did post an impressive victory Sunday behind a strong showing from sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer. Ole Miss star lefty Drew Pomeranz was as-advertised with six shutout innings of one-hit ball Friday. Check out some highlights from the weekend below:

  • Meyer rebounds with strong Sunday performance: Sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer had struggled a points early in 2010, but he posted his second strong start in a row Sunday. Meyer struck out 10 and walked four while allowing three runs on seven hits in six and two-third innings in the series finale. On the year Meyer is now 4-2 with a 6.51 ERA on the season and 36 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.
  • Kapteyn finds his power stroke: After starting the series 0-7 in the first two games, sophomore designated hitter Braden Kapteyn launched his second and third home runs of the season Sunday. Kapteyn was penciled in as one of UK’s prime power sources before the season, but so far had failed to live up to a strong summer league performance. On the season Kapteyn is batting .308 with three home runs and 14 RBI.
  • The necessary information: Junior left-handed pitcher Logan Darnell allowed five runs in six innings to take the loss in game one, while freshman left-handed pitcher Taylor Rogers took the loss in game two after allowing five runs in seven and one-third innings. Junior closer Matt Little continued his stellar pitching with two and one-third scoreless innings Sunday.

UK salvages game three with 12-3 win over Ole Miss

College Baseball

Braden Kapteyn; Photo: UK Athletics

The University of Kentucky avoided a series sweep from No. 21 University of Mississippi with a 12-3 blowout in the Sunday finale. Sophomore designated hitter Braden Kapteyn launched two home runs and drove in six, while sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer allowed three runs in six and two-third innings while striking out 10 and walking four.

Junior All-American second baseman Chris Bisson was 3-5 with three runs scored in the game for UK, and senior center fielder Keenan Wiley hit one home run and drove in three. Junior right-handed closer Matt Little worked out of a jam inherited from Meyer in the seventh inning and allowed just one hit in two and one-third innings while striking out four and walking none. UK improved to 15-5 on the season. (Box Score)

BluGrass Baseball POG: Alex Meyer — Meyer had struggled early in 2010, but rallied Sunday against the best team UK has faced so far to post his best start of the season. Meyer allowed three runs on seven hits in six and two-third innings and struck out 10 while walking four. Meyer improved to 4-2 on the season.

Weekend Schedule: Week Five (March 19)

College Baseball

Conference play starts for UK this weekend, one week after WKU started Sun-Belt play and one week before UofL start its Big East schedule.  Check out the composite schedule below with information about where you can listen or watch the games. Gametracker links will take you to the livestream of the radio broadcast. I’ve also included each teams probable starting pitcher and Baseball America ranking in parentheses when applicable. Clicking on each team’s name will take you to the university’s preview of the series. University of Louisville (9)

  • Friday — vs. Ball State — 3:00 p.m. — RHP Thomas Royse (3-0, 0.74) — Gametracker
  • Saturday — vs. Ball State — 1:00 p.m. — LHP Dean Kiekhefer (1-1, 4.95) — Gametracker
  • Sunday — vs Ball State — 1:00 p.m. — RHP Tony Zych (1-0, 9.64) — Gametracker

University of Kentucky (22)

  • Friday — vs. Ole Miss (21) — 6:30 p.m. — LHP Logan Darnell (3-0, 2.17) — Gametracker
  • Saturday — vs. Ole Miss (21) — 1:00 p.m. — LHP Taylor Rogers (3-0, 4.30) — Gametracker
  • Sunday — vs. Ole Miss (21) — 1:00 p.m. — RHP Alex Meyer (3-2, 7.29) — Gametracker

Western Kentucky University

  • Friday — @ Virginia Commonwealth — 6:00 p.m. (CT) — RHP Matt Ridings (3-0, 4.76)
  • Saturday — @ Virginia Commonwealth — 2:00 p.m. (CT) — RHP Shane Cameron (1-1, 6.41)
  • Sunday — @ Virginia Commonwealth — 11:00 a.m. (CT) — LHP Tanner Perkins (2-1, 3.10)

Murray State University

  • Friday — vs. Mid-Continent — 1:00 p.m. (CT)
  • Friday — vs. Mid-Continent — GM 2
  • Saturday — vs. Mid-Continent — 1:00 p.m. (CT)

Eastern Kentucky University

  • Friday — vs. BGSU — 2:00 p.m. — RHP Stephen Hefler (1-0, 6.60) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — vs. BGSU — 2:00 p.m. — LHP Paul Duncan (1-1, 5.40)
  • Sunday — vs. BGSU — 2:00 p.m. — RHP Anthony Bazzani (1-2, 8.44)

Morehead State University

  • Friday — vs. IPFW — 3:00 p.m. — RHP Jeff Arnold (1-0, 9.00) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — vs. IPFW — 1:00 p.m. — RHP Michael Bottoms (1-1, 6.38) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — vs. IPFW — GM 2 —
  • Sunday — vs. IPFW — RHP Quentin Morgan (2-1, 7.50) —  12:00 p.m. — Live Stats

Week Four Highlights: University of Louisville

College Baseball

Since I was traveling this weekend and didn’t get to post my normal game-by-game recaps I’m going to post one weekend highlights item for each Division one team. We’ll start off with No. 9 University of Louisville, who took on No. 21 Mississippi:

  • Big Series Win: UofL did drop its first game of the season this weekend in an 8-3 Saturday loss, but the Cards picked up their most impressive series victory so far in 2010. UofL traveled to Mississippi to take on the Rebels, who were ranked as high as No. 17 in some polls. The Cards pulled out a nail bitter 6-1 in 11 innings in game one and then earned the win in a 10-8 slugfest in game three for the series win.
  • Freshman continues to shine: Freshman utility man  Kyle Grieshaber posted his best weekend of his young collegiate career this weekend and continues to provide valuable insurance for the Cards while two normal starters sit out with injury. In three games, Grieshaber was 8-16 (.500) with two doubles, four runs scored and two RBI.
  • The necessary information: Right-handed reliever Neil Holland picked up the win in game one and the save in game three. Right-handed starting pitcher Tony Zych earned the win in game three despite surrendering six runs, and junior left-handed pitcher Dean Kiekhefer took the loss in game two. Senior second baseman Adam Duvall had two home runs in game two.

UK Releases 2010 Schedule

College Baseball

 

UK Baseball

UK Athletics Wallpaper

The University of Kentucky has released its 2010 baseball schedule, and the Cats will face the usual daunting Southeastern Conference slate. “The conference is going to be extremely competitive again,” UK Head Coach Gary Henderson said in a news release. “We are going to have as many returning players as ever in the league. When you look at the rosters and stats from around the conference, there is no weak team. It is going to be a great challenge from week to week. It is an absolute grind, 10 weeks of tremendous competition in great environments for college baseball.”

 

Here’s a look at the in-state games and home SEC series:

  • Feb. 24 — vs. Murray State
  • March 2 — vs. Morehead State
  • March 19-21 — vs. Ole Miss
  • March 31 — vs. WKU
  • April 6 — vs. UofL
  • April 9-11 — vs. Alabama
  • April 16-18 — vs. Florida
  • April 20, 2010 — @ WKU
  • April 28, 2010 — @ UofL
  • May 7-9 — vs. South Carolina
  • May 14-16 — vs. LSU
  • May — @ Murray State
  • Full Schedule

The UK Athletics blog “Cat Scratches” also has a breakdown of each of the 10 SEC opponents.