LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky broke open a close game with a five-run fourth inning on its way to a 10-0 victory over the Milwaukee baseball team in its season opener Friday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park.
The Panthers (0-1) had a handful of opportunities to get back into the contest when trailing just 2-0 early, but could not come up with the needed clutch hits against a quality pitching effort by the Wildcats (2-0).
"It was good to get outside at least, but we beat ourselves in a couple of phases," head coach
Scott Doffek said. "You can't do some of the things that we did today against a team like that and expect to get a positive outcome. We need to come out tomorrow with some attitude and execute on both sides of the ball, one pitch at a time."
MKE was outhit just 10-7 on the day, with
Mitchell Buban and
Jake Novak both putting together 2-for-3 days and
Marcus Cline going 2-for-4, including a triple.
Milwaukee had two runners on with two outs in both the second and third inning but could not find a way. Down 2-0 in the fourth, singles from Buban and
Joe Vyskocil had the fourth started off right. The offense was unable to punch anything through and then the game changed in the bottom of the frame when Kentucky plated five runs on just two hits, helped along immensely by three walks, a pair of wild pitches and an error.
Jack Mahoney (0-1) was the opening-day starter, allowing five earned runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of work. He was hurt by command, allowing six walks and four wild pitches, although he did strike out five batters.
Matt McCarty provided 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one earned run while adding a pair of K's.
Jake Armstrong threw a scoreless seventh, striking out one.
These two teams are right back at it tomorrow, set for a first pitch of 11 a.m. CST. With rain in the forecast all day Sunday, the Panthers and Wildcats will now play a pair of seven-inning games Saturday to conclude the series.
