Kentucky Blanks Elon 4-0 to Win Season-Opening Series

Kentucky baseball avoided a disastrous start to its season on Sunday, earning a series win over Elon, blanking the Phoenix 4-0 to take two out of three to open the 2023 campaign.

Following in the footsteps of Saturday's starter Tyler Bosma, senior right-hander Zack Lee toed the slab for UK and delivered five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out seven.

The Bat Cats (2-1) totaled 11 hits, led by four base knocks from second baseman Émilien Pitre.

Just as it did on Saturday, Kentucky swiped the lead in the first inning. Once again, it was leadoff hitter Ryan Waldschmidt getting on base, working a full-count walk.

After getting balked into scoring position by Elon (1-2) starting pitcher Ryan Sprock, the Wildcat left fielder stole third base and was eventually brought home by Pitre, who laced his first of four singles.

Coach Nick Mingione was brought a trio of solid outings from his opening weekend crew, as Friday-night starter Logan Martin, Bosma and Lee combined for 16 innings of two-run baseball, striking out 17 Elon batters in the process.

Mingione used just four arms in the first two games of the series, so upon Lee's departure, the seventh-year skipper opted to empty his bullpen, sending four arms out to the mound for an inning of work each.

Ryder Giles, Magdiel Cotto, Ryan Hagenow and Seth Chavez each hurled a scoreless inning, allowing just three hits and no walks.

After stroking a two-out, two-run single in the 5-1 win over the Phoenix on Saturday, catcher Devin Burkes collected UK's first home run of the 2023 season, going opposite field for a two-run bomb over the right field fence at Latham Park, extending the Cats' lead to 3-0 in the fifth.

2-run shot for @Devin_Burkes, our first of the season. pic.twitter.com/AoN20TZ4G6
— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) February 19, 2023

The lead grew to 4-0 in the eighth, as center fielder Jackson Gray notched his second base hit of the afternoon, lining one to left center, bringing home first baseman Hunter Gilliam — who reached base safely three times in the win.

Waldschmidt joined Pitre and Gray as Cats who had a multi-hit day, as he roped his second double of the season to go along with a single. The Charleston Southern transfer has also drawn a walk in all three games this season.

The winning series will make the long bus ride back to Lexington much easier for the Bat Cats, who now won't leave Lexington for the foreseeable future. They'll welcome the Evansville Purple Aces to Kentucky Proud Park on Tuesday, Feb. 21, beginning a 10-game home stand.

First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. EST and will air on the SEC Network +.

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