Photo By Barry Westerman | UK Athletics
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky baseball team will look to build upon a breakout offensive performance earlier this week when it travels to the Sunshine State to face Florida in a three-game series that opens Friday night at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville.
The Wildcats (21-20, 4-14 SEC) blistered the baseball in a 15-4 win over Western Kentucky on Tuesday night, pounding out five doubles, a triple and six home runs. Senior outfielder Ryan Johnson blasted three home runs, making him the first UK player to do that since Gunner Glad also hit three vs. South Carolina on March 28, 2009. Johnson finished the game 4-for-5 with three solo home runs – in three straight at bats – five runs scored and a walk.
Johnson wasn’t the only Wildcat to find his groove, as junior infielder Zeke Lewis homered for the second straight game, senior outfielder Ryan Shinn clubbed his team-leading 12th homer and freshman infielder Austin Schultz belted his second of the season. The Cats also stole a pair of bases, were hit by three pitches and drew seven walks.
The breakout was a long time coming, as the Wildcats had been seeking the right formula, particularly with runners in scoring position. Now they’ll head to Florida to face an uncharacteristically unranked Gators club that has struggled at times on the mound. For UK, sophomore right-hander Jimmy Ramsey is expected to get the ball in Friday’s opener and junior lefty Zack Thompson on Saturday with the starter for Sunday’s series finale listed as TBA.
Friday night’s game will air on the SEC Network Plus before Saturday and Sunday are nationally televised. Saturday evening’s game will air on the SEC Network and Sunday’s noon start on ESPN2. Fans also can listen to Darren Headrick – The Voice of Kentucky Baseball – via the UK Sports Network or on 630 AM WLAP Lexington on the iHeart Radio app.
SERIES DETAILS
Friday, April 26 at Florida
6:30 p.m. ET; McKethan Stadium (Gainesville, Fla.)
TV: SECN+; Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM in Lexington)
UK – Jimmy Ramsey (RHP, 2-3, 6.59 ERA); Florida – Tommy Mace (RHP, 7-3, 4.24)
Saturday, April 27 at Florida
6 p.m. ET; McKethan Stadium (Gainesville, Fla.)
TV: SEC Network; Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM in Lexington)
UK – Zack Thompson (LHP, 3-1, 2.15); Florida – Jack Leftwich (RHP, 4-3, 6.00)
Sunday, April 28 at Florida
Noon; McKethan Stadium (Gainesville, Fla.)
TV: ESPN2; Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM in Lexington)
UK – TBA; Florida – TBA
Follow along with the Cats on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
