Wednesday Wildcat Wood 'n' Leather Update (Wetter than Usual)

Welcome back baseball fans, to another edition of your weekly baseball update. Last update Big Blue baseball was hurting after dropping some much needed conference games, and the Harry Doyle coping strategy was about to be put into effect . #4 South Carolina came to town for a three game swing, and it was time to get to business or start prepping the La-Z-Boy for the tournament.

5/7 v #4 South Carolina (L 13-9)- Freshman Taylor Rogers got his first career start in this game and struggled, giving up eight runs in 5 1/3 innings, but was bailed out by a strong offensive performance, holding a three run lead into the fifth but falling behind after a five run sixth inning gave the lead back to the Cocks, who did not let go from that point. Lance Ray kept the offensive pressure on, going 3-4 from the plate with an RBI. Marcus Nidiffer, Taylor Black, Chris Bisson, Gunner Glad, and Keenan Wiley all had multi-hit games to try and bury the Ccks but it was simply not enough. The hits for Glad mean he has reached base safely at least once in the last 25 games.

5/8 v #4 South Carolina (w 2-1)- Coach Gary Henderson went to his young guys again, calling on Jordan Cooper to start the game for the Cats who responded by outdueling All-American Sam Dyson with a career-high 6 2/3 innings and striking out five, another career high. Junior Matt Little came in to close out the game, his seventh save of the season. The offensive hero of the day was Braden Kapteyn, whose two-RBI hit in the fifth were the only runs that UK plated, and needed. Chris Bisson saw his hit streak extend to nine games. Cooper earned SEC freshman of the week with this performance.

5/9 v #4 South Carolina (W 9-3)- Pitcher Alex Meyer made his first start in three weeks due to illness and turned in a very strong performance, going seven innings with six K’s and 0 earned runs. UK was only ahead by one in the sixth, and Coach Henderson had a talk with the sophomore and convinced him to stay out one more inning; “I think that he thought that he was done after the sixth but we convinced him that he had another inning in there and then he convinced himself that he had another inning by striking out the side” the coach noted in post-game. The Cats stole six bases this game, and Chris Bisson kept his streak going to 10.

5/11 v Indiana (L 18-17 10 innings)- After scoring eight runs in the last two innings to force extras, the Hoosiers of Indiana had all the momentum and carried it to a walk-off win in 10 innnings. UK brought the bats to the game, carrying a 16-8 lead into the eighth inning and closer Kyle Jackson on the mound. After regaining a one-run lead in the 10th it looked as if the Cats were going to leave Bloomington with a win but Mike Early, who was 0-6 at that point, knocked a walk off single to take the victory. Offense was everywhere, with Lance Ray notching a multi-HR game and Marcus Nidiffer posting a career-high four hits, but was simply not enough.

The BatCats will be hosting Lipscomb U (Home of Lu, the Christian Bison) tonight but I have a feeling it’s not gonna happen, but UK’s last non-conference game will undoubtedly be rescheduled.
Award watch lists are being compiled, and UK’s Braden Kapteyn has been named to the John Olerud award candidates, given the the best “two-way” player, meaning he pitches well and hits a little too. He is batting .279 with five homers and 27 RBI’s. Go get ’em Braden

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