The temperature may have been frigid, but Kentucky baseball’s pitching staff was nothing short of red-hot as the No. 23 Wildcats outlasted Belmont in a hard-fought series sweep at E.S. Rose Park. UK’s pitching dominance was the highlight of the weekend, allowing just six runs over three games while the bats delivered when it mattered most.
Game 1: Pitching Masterclass Secures 2-1 Victory
Friday’s opener was a defensive showdown as UK leaned on a spectacular effort from starter Nic McCay, who struck out seven in six innings while allowing just one run on two hits. The bullpen duo of Jackson Nove and Simon Gregersen continued the dominance, combining for eight strikeouts and no walks, with Nove fanning six straight after a lost ball in the lights gave Belmont its only baserunner against him.
Despite struggling offensively, Kentucky managed to push across two runs, with Patrick Herrera’s clutch full-count, two-out single in the sixth proving to be the game-winner. Luke Lawrence was the catalyst, scoring both runs and using his speed on the bases to keep the Wildcats in control.
Game 2: Cleaver’s Gem and Big Bats Lead to 12-0 Rout
Saturday saw Ben Cleaver deliver an unforgettable performance on the mound, striking out 11 in six innings of one-hit baseball, needing just 69 pitches to carve through Belmont’s lineup.
Kentucky’s offense took a patient approach, earning six hit-by-pitches and seven walks. Freshman Tyler Bell crushed his first career home run, a 431-foot three-run shot, while junior Carson Hansen provided the exclamation point with a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh. Senior Devin Burkes also went deep as UK (3-1) cruised to a dominant run-rule victory.
Game 3: Hansen Stays Hot as UK Completes the Sweep
Sunday’s finale saw Kentucky overcome an early 4-1 deficit with a furious six-run seventh inning en route to a 9-5 victory. Hansen, fresh off his Saturday grand slam, wasted no time making an impact in his first start, launching a first-pitch homer and nearly hitting another. His bat sparked the Cats' rally, capped by a two-run single from Cole Hage and clutch RBIs from Patrick Herrera and Tyler Bell.
On the mound, veteran Evan Byers steadied the game with 1.2 hitless innings, and transfer Scott Rouse earned the win with a strong closing performance.
Home opener up next
With the sweep, Kentucky moves to 4-1 on the season ahead of its home opener against Evansville on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.