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

BluGrass Baseball Hitting Leaderboard: May 10

Uncategorized

Check out the weekly edition of the college baseball leaderboard below. We’ll look at batting statistics today, remembering that players must have 2.5 at-bats per team game to be eligible for the batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage catergories. Stats are current through Sunday’s games.

Batting Average

  • Taylor Davis — Morehead St. — .399 (61-153)
  • Brandon Elliott — Murray St. — .394 (54-137)
  • Andrew Deeds — Morehead St. — .390 (62-159)
  • Richie Rodriguez — EKU — .367 (69-188)
  • Jacob Daniel — EKU — .364 (60-165)

Home Runs

  • Taylor Davis — Morehead St. — 12
  • Stewart Ijames — UofL — 10
  • Bryan Soloman — EKU — 9
  • Ryan Wright — UofL — 9
  • Jacob Daniel — EKU — 9

RBI

  • Justin Riddell — Cincinnati (Lexington Catholic) — 53
  • Matt Rice — WKU — 50
  • Andrew Deeds — Morhead St. — 43
  • Taylor Davis — Morehead St. — 39
  • Braden Kapteyn — UK – 39
  • Ryan Hutchinson — WKU — 39
  • Stewart Ijames — UofL — 39
  • Ryan Wright — UofL — 39
  • Jacob Daniel — EKU — 39

Runs

  • Matt Rice — WKU — 43
  • Jared Andreoli — WKU — 43
  • Kes Carter — WKU — 42
  • Ivan Hartle — WKU — 42
  • Andrew Deeds — Morehead St. — 41
  • Taylor Davis — Morehead St. — 41

Stolen Bases

  • Richie Rodriguez — EKU — 18/20
  • Logan Robbins — WKU — 15/18
  • Jared Andreoli — WKU — 15/19
  • Ryan Wright — UofL — 14/16
  • Chad Wright — UK — 14/18

On-Base Percentage

  • Taylor Davis — Morehead St. — .497
  • Andrew Deeds — Morehead St. — .473
  • Brandon Elliott — Murray St. — .472
  • Jacob Daniel — EKU — .452
  • Kes Carter — WKU — .452

Slugging Percentage

  • Taylor Davis — Morehead St. — .732
  • Andrew Deeds — Morehead St. — .660
  • Jacob Daniel — EKU — .594
  • Ryan Wright — UofL — .577
  • Kes Cater — WKU — .553

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.)

NCAA Roundup: WKU evens series with win; EKU sweeps DH from Murray St.; UofL, UK lose; Morehead St. splits DH

College Baseball

Taylor Davis; Morehead St. photo

Recaps and highlights from Saturday Kentucky college baseball action:

  • Freshman right-handed pitcher Justin Hageman posted a complete game to lead Western Kentucky University to a 6-2 win over Florida Atlantic. Hageman improved to 8-4 on the season after surrendering two runs on nine hits in nine innings while striking out four batters and walking one. Junior left fielder Jared Andreoli was 4-5 with two runs scored and one stolen base. Junior second baseman Ivan Hartle was 2-5 with one triple, one RBI and one run scored, and junior shortstop Logan Robbins was 2-4 with two RBI and one run scored. (Box Score)
  • Vanderbilt scored six runs in the first inning to put the game out of reach early and send the University of Kentucky to a 10-3 loss. Freshman left-handed pitcher Corey Littrell took the loss after surrendering seven runs on nine hits in five innings while striking out three batters and walking three. Junior left fielder Chad Wright was 3-5 with two RBI and one run scored. UK loaded the bases on three walks in the ninth inning and plated two runs before senior shortstop Taylor Black flew out to center field to end the game. (Box Score)
  • The University of Louisville finally scored in its series versus Seton Hall but still could not avoid the series sweep after a 4-3 loss in game three. Freshman right-handed pitcher Cole Sturgeon took the loss after surrendering three runs on three hits in two innings. Senior catcher J. J. Ethel was 3-4 with one RBI, and junior shortstop Ryan Wright was 2-5 with one triple, one home run, two RBI and one run scored. Junior right-handed pitcher Travis Tingle pitched five scoreless innings in a start. (Box Score)
  • You can read the BluGrass Baseball recap of the doubleheader split between Eastern Kentucky University and Murray State University here.
  • Despite trailing 8-1 after three innings, Morehead State University rallied for a 10-9 win in game one of a doubleheader versus UT Martin. Junior right-handed pitcher Matthew Robertson earned the win after surrendering two runs on four hits in five innings of relief while striking out four batters and walking one. Junior catcher Taylor Davis was 3-4 with one home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Freshman third baseman Bud Morton was 2-4 with his first home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Josh Schneider pitched two scoreless innings for his first save. (Box Score)
  • In game two of its double-header Morehead St. suffered a 7-6 loss after UT Martin scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to end the game, which was scheduled to last seven innings. Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Schneider took the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits in two innings while striking out three batters and walking none. Junior center fielder Andrew Deeds was 3-5 with two doubles, three RBI and one run scored, and junior right fielder Luke Bainer was 2-3 with one solo home run. (Box Score)
Hitter of the day: C Taylor Davis (Morehead St.)
  • Stats: 4-8, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB
  • Honorable Mention: Jared Andreoli (WKU), Logan Robbins (WKU), Ryan Wright (UofL), J. J. Ethel (UofL), Chad Wright (UofL), Dustin Dunlop (EKU), A. J. Jamison (EKU), Cody Larson (Murray St.), Bud Morton (Morehead St.), Andrew Deeds (Morehead St.), Luke Bainer (Morehead St.)
Pitcher of the day: RHP Justin Hageman (WKU)
  • Stats: 1-0, 9 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Travis Tingle (UofL), Braden Kapteyn (UK), Stephen Hefler (EKU), Tyler Beers (Murray St.), Matthew Robertson (Morehead St.)

NCAA roundup: Meyer, UK take down No. 4 Vanderbilt; WKU loses; UofL shutout in second consecutive game

College Baseball

Alex Meyer; BluGrass Baseball photo

Recaps and highlights from Tuesday Kentucky college baseball action:

  • University of Kentucky junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer out dueled fellow first-round draft pick Sonny Gray to lead the Cats to a 2-0 win over No. 4 Vanderbilt. Meyer posted a complete-game shutout, surrendering five hits and striking out five batters while walking one. Junior third baseman Thomas McCarthy put UK on the board with a solo home run to lead off the second inning. The Cats added an insurance run in the seventh inning while junior designated hitter Braden Kapteyn singled to lead off the inning then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from McCarthy, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. (Box Score)
  • Western Kentucky University suffered a serious setback in its push for a Sun Belt Conference championship with a 4-2 loss to Florida Atlantic in game one of a three-game series. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Tanner Perkins took the loss after surrendering four runs on nine hits in six and one-third innings while striking out four batters and walking two. Senior third baseman Casey Dykes was 3-4 with one run scored. No other WKU batter tallied multiple hits in the game. (Box Score)
  • The University of Louisville offense extended its scoreless innings streak to 33 in a 1-0 loss to Seton Hall. Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Justin Amlung suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering one run on four hits in eight and two-third innings while striking out three batters and walking four. The UofL offense tallied just two hits in the game. Seton Hall put two runners on base with two outs in the ninth inning against Amlung before UofL head coach Dan McDonnell brought closer Tony Zych in the game. Zych allowed the runners to advance on a wild pitch before giving up the game-winning single. (Box Score)
Hitter of the day: 3B Thomas McCarthy (UK)
  • Stats: 1-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB
  • Honorable Mention: Casey Dykes (WKU)
Pitcher of the day: RHP Alex Meyer (UK)
  • Stats: 1-0. 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Tanner Perkins (WKU), Justin Amlung (UofL)

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.

NCAA roundup: EKU earns walk-off win vs. WKU; UofL loses

College Baseball

Recaps and highlights from Wednesday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • Eastern Kentucky University scored a run in the bottom of the 11th inning on a wild pitch to earn a 5-4 win over Western Kentucky University. EKU freshman infielder Alex Arovits, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the ninth inning, scored the tying and winning runs. EKU sophomore right-handed pitcher Anthony Bazzani earned his first win of the season after posting a scoreless inning of relief. WKU junior right-handed pitcher Phil Wetherell took the loss after surrendering one run on one hit in two and one-third innings. EKU freshman third baseman Bryan Soloman was 2-5 with one double, one RBI and one run scored. WKU junior center fielder Kes Carter was 3-4 with one walk, one RBI and one run scored. (Box Score)
  • The University of Louisville surrendered six runs in the third inning in a 6-2 loss to Eastern Michigan. Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Mike Nastold took the loss after surrendering six unearned runs on eight hits in three innings. Junior shortstop Ryan Wright was 3-4 with two doubles, one RBI and one run scored. Senior right-handed pitcher Gabriel Shaw surrendered two hits in four scoreless innings of  relief. (Box Score)
Hitter of the day: OF Kes Carter (WKU)
  • Stats: 3-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 1 R
  • Honorable Mention: Scott Wilcox (WKU), Matt Rice (WKU), Ryan Wright (UofL), Bryan Soloman (EKU), Alex Arovits (EKU)
Pitcher of the day: RHP Gabriel Shaw (UofL)
  • Stats: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Rye Davis (WKU), Greg Terry (EKU)

Twins add Ben Revere to MLB roster; Matt Rice, Ryan Wright named to midseason Golden Spikes Award watch list

College Baseball, Major League Baseball

Matt Rice bats for WKU: BluGrass Baseball photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • The Minnesota Twins have added Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere to the MLB roster after placing outfielder Jason Repko on the disabled list.
  • Western Kentucky University senior catcher Matt Rice and University of Louisville junior infielder Ryan Wright have been named to the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list. The award goes to college baseball’s best player and is administered by USA Baseball.
  • Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star reports the Royals may put Elizabethtown native and right-handed reliever Nathan Adcock in more high-pressure situations after his first MLB win.
  • Mark Maloney of the Lexington Herald-Leader catches up with some former Lexington Legends who are contributing at the MLB level with the Houston Astros.