Murray State Baseball

BluGrass Baseball Wednesday Review: Week 11

College Baseball
Recaps from Tuesday action on the diamond:
  • Murray State University gave No. 14 Mississippi everything it could handle, but the Rebels defeated the Breds 11-10 in 10 innings. Senior first baseman Wes Cunningham homered and drove in four runs, and senior right fielder Daniel Hill tallied three hits in the game. Redshirt freshman reliever Will Handlin took the loss after surrendering a walkoff home run in the 10th. (Box Score)
  • Freshman right-handed pitcher Cody Gibson picked up his first career victory in Morehead State University‘s 3-2 win over Marshall. Gibson surrendered just two hits and one walk in four and two-third innings. Sophomore third baseman Andrew Deeds was 3-3 with two runs scored, and senior designated hitter Michael Bottoms scored the Eagles other run. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: 3B Andrew Deeds (Morehead St.)

  • Stats: 3-3, 2 R
  • Honorable Mention: Wes Cunningham (Murray St.), Bryan Propst (Murray St.), Daniel Hill (Murray St.)

Pitcher of the day: RHP Cody Gibson (Morehead St.)

  • Stats: 1-0, 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Ben Lady (Murray St.), Jeff Arnold (Morehead St.)

BluGrass Baseball Pitching Leaderboard: April 27

College Baseball

In the second weekly statistics leaderboard update, we’ll look at the pitching categories. To qualify for the ERA and batting average against, pitchers must have a minimum of 1.0 IP per team game, which just makes Murray St. reliever Matt McGaha eligible, but excludes new UofL weekend starting pitcher Gabriel Shaw and Cards closer Neil Holland. Stats are current through Sunday. The college leaderboard is now permanently accessible on its own page on the left sidebar here.

ERA

  • Thomas Royse — UofL — 2.56
  • Matt Ridings — WKU — 3.51
  • Matt McGaha — Murray St. — 3.76
  • Derek Self — UofL — 3.95
  • Dean Kiekhefer — UofL — 4.15

Wins

  • Matt Ridings — WKU — 7-1
  • Thomas Royse — UofL — 7-1
  • Neil Holland — UofL — 6-0
  • Derek Self — UofL — 6-0
  • Josh Schneider — Morehead St. — 6-3

Strikeouts

  • Matt Ridings — WKU — 61
  • Thomas Royse — UofL — 62
  • Shane Cameron — WKU — 59
  • Jake Donze — Murray St. — 54
  • Rye Davis — WKU — 53

Innings Pitched

  • Matt Ridings — WKU — 66.2
  • Thomas Royse — UofL — 63.1
  • Chris Craycraft — Murray St. — 63.1
  • Taylor Rogers — UK — 63.1
  • Logan Darnell — UK — 61.0

Saves

  • Neil Holland — UofL — 10
  • Ryne Purcell — EKU — 8
  • Rye Davis — WKU — 7
  • Matt Little — UK — 6
  • Cody Gibson — Morehead St. — 3
  • Dan Huff — Murray St. — 3
  • Matt McGaha — Murray St. — 3

Batting Average Against

  • Matt Ridings — WKU — .245
  • Thomas Royse — UofL — .254
  • Derek Self — UofL — .259
  • Dean Kiekhefer — UofL — .272
  • Jake Donze — Murray St. — .274

Appearances

  • Rye Davis — WKU — 25
  • Matt Harris — EKU — 21
  • Ryne Purcell — EKU — 21
  • Neill Holland — UofL — 19
  • Josh Schneider — Morehead St. — 19
  • Greg Terry — EKU — 19

Week 11 Midweek Schedule

College Baseball

The midweek schedule lost two teams Monday when Western Kentucky University canceled its in-state rivalry game with Eastern Kentucky University. While the Hilltoppers and Colonels won’t be squaring off this week, there is one other in-state matchup, and one of the OVC squads will visit a top-15 foe.

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • University of Kentucky @ University of Louisville — Gametracker — RHP Jordan Cooper (2-3, 6.49) vs. TBA

BluGrass Baseball Hitting Leaderboard: April 27

College Baseball

Check out the hitting BluGrass Baseball leaderboard updated through Sunday’s games. To be eligible for the percentage categories (batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage) a player must have at least 2.5 at-bats per team game, which means UofL senior first baseman Andrew Clark is still not eligible in those categories after missing three weeks due to injury. The college leaderboard is now permanently accessible on its own page on the left sidebar here.

Batting Average

  • J. D. Ashbrook — Morehead St. — .446
  • Zack Cox — Arkansas (PRP) — .446
  • Wes Cunningham — Murray St. — .426
  • Drew Lee — Morehead St. — .410
  • Jayson Langfels — EKU — .409

Home Runs

  • J. D. Ashbrook — Morehead St. — 17
  • Drew Lee — Morehead St. — 15
  • Wes Cunningham — Murray St. — 14
  • Jayson Langfels — EKU — 14
  • Phil Wunderlich — UofL — 13
  • Cameron Flynn — Morehead St. — 13

RBI

  • Drew Lee — Morehead St. — 62
  • Anthony Ottrando — EKU — 58
  • Matt Rice — WKU — 53
  • Wes Cunningham — Murray St. — 51
  • Taylor Davis — Morehead St. — 49

Runs

  • J. D. Ashbrook — Morehead St. — 62
  • Wes Cunningham — Murray St. — 57
  • Jared Andreoli — WKU — 56
  • Jayson Langfels — EKU — 55
  • Matt Payton — WKU — 53

Stolen Bases

  • Chris Bisson — UK — 21/25
  • Neiko Johnson — UK — 19/20
  • Logan Robbins — WKU — 14/16
  • Drew Lee — Morehead St. — 13/16
  • Richie Rodriguez — EKU — 13/20

On-Base Percentage

  • J. D. Ashbrook — Morehead St. — .548
  • Zack  Cox — Arkansas (PRP) — .525
  • Jayson Langfels — EKU — .513
  • Wes Cunningham — Murray St. — .497
  • Anthony Ottrando — EKU — .484

Slugging Percentage

  • J. D. Ashbrook — Morehead St. — .834
  • Wes Cunningham — Murray St. — .827
  • Jayson Langfels — EKU — .818
  • Drew Lee — Morehead St. — .757
  • Anthony Ottrando — EKU — .735

BluGrass Baseball Week 10 Awards

College Baseball

Awards from a weather-shortened week of Kentucky baseball: (Morehead State only played two games and lost both with no standout performances worthy of nomination)

BluGrass Baseball Player of the Week: OF Lance Ray (UK)

  • Stats: 9-16 (.563), 2 HR, 5 2Bs, 8 RBI, 3 R
  • Honorable Mention: Jayson Langfels (EKU), Anthony Ottrando (EKU), Jared Andreoli (WKU), Matt Rice (WKU), Jake Wells (WKU), Stewart Ijames (UofL), Brandon Elliott (Murray St.)

BluGrass Baseball Pitcher of the Week: RHP Brian Edelen (WKU)

  • Stats: 1-0, 2 GS, 10.1 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Tony Zych (UofL), Justin Amlung (UofL), Thomas Royse (UofL), Matt Ridings (WKU), Paul Duncan (EKU), Anthony Bazzani (EKU)

BluGrass Baseball Freshman of the Week: RHP Justin Amlung (UofL)

  • Stats: 1-0, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Matt Koch (UofL), Brandon Elliott (Murray St.), Anthony Bazzani (EKU), Austin Grisham (EKU), Kyle Grieshaber (UofL)

BluGrass Baseball Sunday Review: Week Ten

College Baseball

After Saturday’s rain-shortened schedule the Sunday slate of Kentucky baseball was jam packed with five of six teams playing in doubleheaders. Check out recaps and awards from those games below:

  • No. 13 University of Louisville dropped its series finale 8-6 to Seton Hall. Senior shortstop Adam Duvall, redshirt sophomore right fielder Stewart Ijames and freshmen third basemen Kyle Grieshaber and Cade Stallings each homered in the game for the Cards. Duvall led UofL with three hits. Junior right-handed pitcher Gabriel Shaw suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs in four innings. (Box Score)
  • Western Kentucky University swept a doubleheader from Florida International with a walk-off 8-4 win in game one and an 8-4 win in game two. Sophomore center fielder Kes Carter was 6-9 with three runs scored and one RBI. Junior outfielder Monte Ketchum gave WKU the win in game one with a pinch-hit, walkoff grand slam. Relievers Rye Davis and Bart Carter were credit with the two wins. (Box Score GM 1) (Box Score GM 2)
  • The University of Kentucky rallied for an 8-7 win in game one of a double-header with Auburn, but dropped game two 6-5 to lose a pivotal conference series. Senior first baseman Gunner Glad was 4-7 with a home run, three runs scored and two RBI. Junior right fielder Lance Ray homered in game two. Junior right-handed reliever Matt Little picked up the win in game one after allowing two unearned runs in four innings. (Box Score GM 1) (Box Score GM 2)
  • Morehead State University‘s recent offensive outburst was slowed Sunday as the Eagles were swept in a doubleheader by Tennessee Tech with a 5-3 loss in game one and a 12-4 defeat in game two. Sophomore outfielder Cameron Flynn homered and drove in three runs in game one. Senior right-handed pitcher Michael Bottoms and junior right-handed pitcher Matthew Robertson were handed the two losses. (Box Score GM 1) (Box Score GM 2)
  • Eastern Kentucky University swept its Sunday doubleheader against UT Martin with a 7-3 win in game one and a 7-4 victory in game two. Senior first baseman Anthony Ottrando drove in four in the doubleheader, and freshman designated hitter Austin Grisham tallied three hits in game one. Junior left-handed pitcher Paul Duncan allowed three runs in six innings for the game one win, and sophomore left-handed pitcher Greg Terry was credited with the game two win. (Box Score GM 1) (Box Score GM 2)
  • Murray State University was swept in its Sunday doubleheader by Eastern Illinois after a 8-6 loss in game one and a 7-4 defeat in game two. Senior first baseman Wes Cunningham and freshman shortstop Brandon Elliott each tallied four hits on the afternoon. Senior right-handed pitcher Chris Craycraft and redshirt junior left-handed pitcher Jake Donze were credited with the two losses. (Box Score GM 1) (Box Score GM 2)

Hitter of the Day: OF Jared Andreoli (WKU)

  • Stats: 5-10, 1 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI
  • Honorable Mention: Kes Carter (WKU), Kyle Grieshaber (UofL), Adam Duvall (UofL), Keenan Wiley (UK), Gunner Glad (UK), Taylor Davis (Morehead), Anthony Ottrando (EKU), Wes Cunningham (Murray St.)

Pitcher of the Day: LHP Paul Duncan (EKU)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO
  • Matt Little (UK), Brian Edelen (WKU), Shane Cameron (WKU), Tony Zych (UofL), Anthony Bazzani (EKU)

BluGrass Baseball Weekend Schedule: Week 10

College Baseball

The midpoint of the college season has passed so the postseason watch is officially on. Each of the three Ohio Valley Conference teams will have a chance to make the NCAA tournament as the conference automatic qualifier, and the other three Kentucky colleges are still in the running for an at-large bid. UK’s chances will likely hinge on this weekend’s series with Auburn, who the Cats are competing with for the final spot in the Southeastern Conference tournament.

University of Louisville (13) vs. Seton Hall

  • Friday — 5 p.m. — RHP Thomas Royse (7-1, 2.45) — Gametracker
  • Saturday — 4 p.m. — LHP Dean Kiekhefer (3-2, 4.34) — Gametracker
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. — RHP Gabriel Shaw (4-0, 2.40) — Gametracker

Western Kentucky University vs. Florida International

  • Friday — 6 p.m. (CT) — RHP Matt Ridings (7-1, 3.99) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — 3 p.m. (CT) — RHP Shane Cameron (4-1, 4.73) — Live Stats
  • Sunday — 12 p.m. (CT) — TBA — Live Stats

University of Kentucky @ Auburn

  • Friday — 7:30 p.m. — LHP Logan Darnell (3-2, 4.77) — Gametracker
  • Saturday — 12 p.m. — LHP Taylor Rogers (4-4, 4.92) — Gametracker
  • Sunday — 2 p.m. — TBA — Gametracker

Morehead State University @ Tennessee Tech.

  • Friday — 2 p.m. — RHP Michael Bottoms (4-2, 6.66) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — GM 2 (DH) — RHP Matthew Robertson (1-2, 9.19)
  • Sunday — 2 p.m.  — LHP Tyler Hieneman (1-2, 8.53)

Murray State University vs. Eastern Illinois

  • Saturday — 1 p.m. — RHP Chris Craycraft (5-2, 4.34)
  • Saturday — 4 p.m. — RHP Jake Donze (5-4, 5.89)
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. — TBA

Eastern Kentucky University @ UT Martin

  • Saturday — 1 p.m. — RHP Stephen Hefler (3-3, 7.09) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — GM 2 (DH) — LHP Paul Duncan (3-2, 7.33)
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. — LHP Greg Terry (2-2, 5.53) — Live Stats

Wednesday Recaps and Awards

College Baseball
Recaps from UofL’s win over WKU and Murray St.’s loss Wednesday:
  • Southern Illinois rallied for an 8-7 victory over Murray State University Wednesday with a go-ahead run in the eighth inning. Junior center fielder Elliot Frey was 2-4 with a home run, three RBI and one run scored in the game. Senior catcher Jason Laws tallied three hits on the afternoon. Freshman right-handed pitcher Ben Lady took the loss for the Breds. (Box Score)
  • Josh Cook recaps No. 13 University of Louisville‘s fifth consecutive win over Western Kentucky University for the Courier Journal.
  • UofL has its own recap of the win.
  • WKU also recaps the game.

Hitter of the Day: 2B Ryan Wright (UofL)

  • Stats: 3-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R
  • Honorable Mention: Andrew Clark (UofL), Stewart Ijames (UofL), Jeff Arnold (UofL), Kory Petri (WKU), Elliot Frey (Murray St.), Jason Laws (Murray St.)

Pitcher of the Day: RHP Justin Amlung (UofL)

  • Stats: 1-0, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Matt McGaha (Murray St.), Tony Zych (UofL), Rye Davis (WKU)

BluGrass Baseball Pitching Leaderboard: April 20

College Baseball

In the second weekly statistics leaderboard update, we’ll look at the pitching categories. To qualify for the ERA and batting average against, pitchers must have a minimum of 1.0 IP per team game, which just makes UofL closer Neil Holland and Murray St. reliever Matt McGaha eligible, but excludes new UofL weekend starting pitcher Gabriel Shaw. Stats are current through Sunday. The college leaderboard is now permanently accessible on its own page on the left sidebar here.

ERA

  • Neil Holland — UofL — 1.50
  • Thomas Royse — UofL — 2.45
  • Matt McGaha — Murray St. — 3.75
  • Matt Ridings — WKU — 3.99
  • Derek Self — UofL — 3.40

Wins

  • Matt Ridings — WKU — 7-1
  • Thomas Royse — UofL — 7-1
  • Neil Holland — UofL — 6-0
  • Josh Schneider — Morehead St. — 6-3
  • Derek Self — UofL — 5-0
  • Alex Love — Murray St. — 5-0
  • Chris Craycraft — Murray St. — 5-2
  • Jake Donze — Murray St. — 5-4

Strikeouts

  • Matt Ridings — WKU — 57
  • Thomas Royse — UofL — 54
  • Alex Meyer — UK — 52
  • Shane Cameron — WKU — 51
  • Jake Donze — Murray St. — 50

Innings Pitched

  • Matt Ridings — WKU — 58.2
  • Thomas Royse — UofL — 58.2
  • Chris Craycraft — Murray St. — 58.0
  • Taylor Rogers — UK — 56.2
  • Jake Donze — Murray St. — 55

Saves

  • Neil Holland — UofL — 8
  • Ryne Purcell — EKU — 8
  • Rye Davis — WKU — 7
  • Matt Little — UK — 6
  • Cody Gibson — Morehead St. — 3
  • Dan Huff — Murray St. — 3
  • Matt McGaha — Murray St. — 3

Batting Average Against

  • Neil Holland — UofL — .145
  • Thomas Royse — UofL — .249
  • Matt Ridings — WKU — .251
  • Shane Cameron — WKU — .262
  • Jake Donze — Murray St. — .268

Appearances

  • Rye Davis — WKU — 22
  • Matt Harris — EKU — 20
  • Ryne Purcell — EKU 19
  • Craig Stem — WKU — 18
  • Josh Schneider — Morehead St. — 18
  • Greg Terry — EKU — 18

BluGrass Baseball Week 10 Midweek Schedule

College Baseball

The week 10 midweek action is headlined by three intrastate matchups, including two for WKU against the state’s two other NCAA at-large contenders. Murray State is the only school not playing a Kentucky rival this week, though Morehead is off until the weekend. Check out the schedule below with links to gamecasts and probable pitcher when available:

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • WKU @ University of Louisville (13) — 6 p.m. — TBA vs. TBA — Gametracker
  • Murray State University @ Southern Illinois — 3 p.m. (CT) —Live Stats