Highlights of Bat Cats Blitzing Wright State, Winning Sixth Straight

The heavens opened up and temporarily sent Wright State and the Bat Cats scurrying to the showers yesterday evening at Cliff Hagan Stadium with the hosts holding a 4-0 lead.

When play resumed, the Wildcats conjured up their own downpour and combined for 11 of their 15 runs in the sixth and seventh innings on 13 hits in a 15-1 victory, the team’s sixth in a row during their recent home stand. The win moves Nick Mingione’s team to 8-5 on the season.

The scoring started in the bottom of the first inning with runners on the corners and Zach Reks at the plate. The hot-hitting outfielder could not get the ball out of the infield and reached on a fielder’s choice, though he did the first of five RBIs on the day.

Leading 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Marcus Carson’s RBI single got things going again for Kentucky. Evan White’s double brought Carson home and in turn, Zeks’ first hit of the day scored White. Reks stole 2nd and made it to 3rd on a wild pitch but ended the inning stranded on base.

The game settled into a rhythm after that with neither team being able to hang any runs on the board. Brad Schaenzer (2-0) got the start, his second in sixth appearances this spring, and threw six complete, shutout innings. He struck out eight, walked one, and allowed three hits.

After the rain delay, Marcus Carson doubled in the bottom of the sixth inning and drove in two runs, eventually scoring himself after Kole Cottam walked. The batter before, Reks, drew a walk and that scored Connor Heady. Tristan Pompey walked a batter later, and Evan White crossed the plate as a result. Troy Marshall drew yet another walk on a 3-1 count and Reks run ended the rally with the Wildcats on top 10-0.

Heady homered to center field to start off the seventh inning. After a walk and a wild pitch, the Wildcats had runners on 2nd and 3rd. Reks belted a double, driving in Carson and Gunnar McNeill. Reks advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch and scored off of a Cottam sacrifice fly. Marshall Gei drove in UK’s final run of the game towards the end of the inning.

Reliever Colton Cleary allowed UK’s only run of the contest, a beanball, in the top of the seventh.

In addition to his runs batted in, Reks finished 2-of-4 at the plate and scored a run. Carson doubled twice, going 4-of-6, with three RBIs and four runs scored. White and Heady each finished 2-of-3.

Reigning SEC Player of the Week Riley Mahan went 0-of-4 and saw his ten-game hit streak come to an end.

The Bat Cats take the field again later today in the Queen City when they face the Cincinnati Bearcats.