UK defeats Florida behind Wijas’ Sunday performance

For the first time in the last four conference series, UK left the weekend a winner behind an unexpected but effective arm.
After having lost leads in the previous three Sunday Southeastern Conference games, UK (22-14, 5-10 SEC) grabbed a 6-5 win against No. 7 Florida (25-10, 10-5 SEC) on Sunday.
“We like winning on Sunday,” junior [...]

Shortstop finds defense with bat

When Taylor Black put on the UK uniform, he felt he had to prove he was worthy of the jersey.
Black was by no means the only player with that feeling. A junior college transfer and this year’s only position player who wasn’t a returning starter or key player, it’s no surprise he felt the pressure [...]

UK starter Alex Meyer out 3-4 weeks

UK sophomore pitcher Alex Meyer has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and will have to sit out for 3-4 weeks, head coach Gary Henderson announced Wednesday.
Meyer, UK’s Sunday starter, is 4-2 in eight starts with a 7.30 ERA.  He leads the team and ranks fifth in the Southeastern Conference with 52 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings [...]

Cats drop nine-run lead to Tide

UK found its rosy picture smeared by a black stain from a Sunday collapse.
After three straight wins against top-25 opponents, the Cats looked poised to put the finishing touches on their week with a sweep against No. 19 Alabama.
But UK (21-12, 4-8 Southeastern Conference) saw a nine-run lead erode under the tides of Alabama’s late-inning [...]

Behind the mask, behind the scene

Before entering the game, before jogging out in response to a coach’s outstretched arm beckoning the pitcher to the mound, before hearing his name broadcast over the PA system, before stepping onto the rubber to stare down the batter, before all that, a UK pitcher has to warm up in the bullpen.
And that pitcher warms [...]

UK turns in impressive performance, beats Cards 5-0

All eyes – literally, with a season-high attendance watching – were looking to see how UK would fare against a nationally-ranked opponent, with in-state implications, in a charged atmosphere.
They had to like what they saw.
UK (19-11, 2-7 SEC) put on an impressive all-around display of baseball in front of a season-high 3,819 spectators in a [...]

Rivalry renewed: Cats, Cards meet in midweek showdown

It’s a midweek game sandwiched between two Southeastern Conference series in the middle of the year, with no bearing on the conference standings.
But it’s been circled on the calendars because it’s against rival Louisville.
“This game definitely stands out to us on the schedule,” senior outfielder Keenan Wiley said. “Anytime you play a team that’s an [...]

Cats crushed by walk-off grand slam

The runs kept coming, and coming, and coming, all the way until the last pitch.
UK (18-11, 2-7 SEC) held a 16-13 lead over No. 10 Arkansas entering the bottom of the ninth inning.  With Matt Little working his second inning of the game on the mound, the Razorbacks loaded the bases with two outs and [...]

Offensive surge pushes Cats to 12-8 victory

Facing its highest ranking opponent of the year, UK brought the big-boy bats.
The Cats (18-9, 2-5 SEC) recorded a season-high 17 hits, including four home runs, in a 12-8 victory over No. 10 Arkansas.
All but one UK starter had at least one hit.
Braden Kapteyn led the offense with a 4-for-5 performance, including a first-inning homer, [...]

Cats turn to speed in losing skid

There is no magic.
UK baseball head coach Gary Henderson uttered those words after a loss to Western Kentucky dropped UK (17-9, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) to 1-4 in their last five games.
And there’s no magic wand that can make things better for the Cats, who are in the midst of a stretch where [...]