Tyler Bosma Throws Six Scoreless, Kentucky Evens Series With Elon in 5-1 Win
After a disastrous start at the plate in its season-opener on Friday, Kentucky got on track in game two against the Elon Phoenix, earning a 5-1 victory to remove the goose egg from the win column.
The Bat Cats managed just seven hits, but the knocks were timely. After going 0-11 with runners on base in their 2-0 loss in game one, UK (1-1) managed three on Saturday, highlighted by a two-run single from Devin Burkes.
With two outs and runners on second and third base in the top of the fifth, the designated hitter roped a 3-2 fastball right up the gut, driving in both Ryan Waldschmidt and James McCoy, extending UK's lead to 3-0.
Waldschmidt got the festivities started with a bang, as he opened the game with a double off the left field wall, the Cats' first extra-base hit of the season. An error on Elon (1-1) shortstop Will Vergantino advanced the speedy outfielder to third, leading to an RBI for Émilien Pitre.
That lead was all UK starter Tyler Bosma needed to see, as the veteran lefty was dominant at Latham Park. In six innings of work, he allowed just two hits, no walks and no runs, even retiring the first 14 batters he faced on Saturday.
It was Austin Strickland in relief for the graduate senior, as the 6-foot-2 Winchester, Ohio native hurled the final three innings, allowing one earned on one hit and a walk while striking out three.
The pair out-dueled a quarter of arms for the Phoenix. After Shea Sprague dazzled in the season-opener, freshman Justin Mitrovich struck out seven Wildcats in four-and two-thirds, but allowed three earned runs on four hits, throwing 78 pitches. Joe Savino followed with two-and-a-third IP as the first arm out of the pen for the Phoenix, fanning five, though he allowed five baserunners.
Kentucky extended its lead in the eighth. First baseman Hunter Gilliam notched his second single of the season before Jackson Gray was hit by a pitch. Catcher Chase Stanke advanced the runners on a grounder, leading to an RBI groundout for Isaiah Byars, then a two-out RBI single to right field for shortstop Grant Smith, his second hit of the game.
The win sets up a rubber match between Kentucky and Elon, which is set to take place on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST as the Cats look to return home to Kentucky Proud Park with a winning record.
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