Baseball Hosts Buffalo in First Home Weekend of 2016
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- In the midst of a season-long 10 game homestand to open the 2016 schedule at Cliff Hagan Stadium, Kentucky will welcome Buffalo for a three-game series, starting on Friday at 4 p.m. ET. The series will resume on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET and conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
All three games will be broadcast live on the UK Sports Radio Network, with Dick Gabriel voicing the action. Fans in Central Kentucky can hear the games live on Fox Sports 1580-AM or online at UKathletics.com. The games will also be streamed live on the SEC Network +, also available through the ESPN app.
Kentucky will send its weekend rotation of junior righty Zack Brown (0-2, 9.00 ERA) to the mound on Friday, senior right-hander Dustin Beggs (2-0, 0.64 ERA) on Saturday and senior right-hander Kyle Cody (1-1, 2.61 ERA) on Sunday. Buffalo will counter with junior righty Alec Tuohy (1-1, 4.35 ERA) on Friday, senior lefty Brandon Mumaw (1-1, 4.85 ERA) on Saturday and sophomore right-hander Charlie Sobieraski (1-1, 7.36 ERA) on Sunday.
A native of Seymour, Ind., Brown is in his second season as UK’s Friday-night starter. He has made two starts to open the year, working in eight innings, allowing three walks and striking out seven. In his career, Brown has a 7-9 record and a 4.30 ERA in 36 games and 21 starts, owning three complete games. Brown has worked 129 innings in his career, allowing 143 hits and 52 walks, striking out 96. Tuohy has made two starts for UB, working in 10.1 innings, allowing 12 hits and three walks, striking out seven.
Beggs is coming off a strong performance last week, where he was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher in the inaugural Tony Gwynn Classic in San Diego. A native of Roswell, Ga., Beggs has worked 14 innings in 2016, allowing only six hits and two walks, striking out 15. In his two-year UK career, Beggs ranks seventh in UK history with a 3.26 ERA, owning a 9-4 record in 107 innings. He has allowed only 88 hits and 22 walks, striking out 90. Mumaw has tossed 13 innings for UB to open the year in two starts, allowing 11 hits and four walks, striking out eight.
A native of Chippewa Falls, Wis., Cody has worked 10.1 innings to open the year, allowing two walks and nine hits, striking out 11. In his career, Cody has appeared in 49 games with 30 hits, owning five saves in 172 innings, allowing 165 hits, walking 52 and striking out 141.For UB in 2016, Sobieraski has worked in 11 innings, allowing 16 hits and three walks, striking out 12.
Kentucky (4-3) is coming off a 3-2 win to open its home schedule on Wednesday vs. Austin Peay, rallying from a one-run hole with two in the eighth for the win. UK got the game-tying RBI from Gunnar McNeill in the eighth – his second RBI after belting a homer in the fourth – and the go-ahead RBI from pinch hitter Luke Becker. Freshman Sean Hjelle came on to lock down the save, the first of his career, with UK getting a nice catch from rightfielder Marcus Carson to open the frame.
The Wildcats have hit .295/.363/.525 as a team through seven games, with 14 doubles, three triples, 12 homers and 44 runs scored, stealing four bases. UK has fielded .962, turning six double plays and catching three of seven runners stealing. On the mound, UK has a 3.84 ERA as a team, allowing 59 hits in 61 innings, walking 25 and striking out 59, with opponents hitting .248.
Individually, UK has been led by sophomore shortstop Riley Mahan, who sports a .435 average with three doubles, two triples, one homer and four RBI. Junior third baseman JaVon Shelby has hit .407 with five doubles, two homers and four RBI, with sophomore second baseman Luke Becker owning a .400 average with three RBI. Junior outfielder Zach Reks has batted .316 with two RBI, junior DH Gunnar McNeill owns two homers, six RBI and a .310 average, and freshman outfielder Tristan Pompey leads the team with three homers and eight RBI. Sophomore first baseman Evan White has hit .250 with three doubles and four RBI, with freshman catcher Kole Cottam sporting a .250 average with a homer and three RBI. Junior centerfielders Storm Wilson (.235) and Marcus Carson (.214) have each hit a homer.
In relief for the Wildcats, senior righty Zach Strecker (1-0, 1.42 ERA), freshman righty Sean Hjelle (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and sophomore southpaw Zach Logue (0-0, 5.40 ERA) have each appeared in three games. Righty Zach Pop (0-0, 0.00 ERA), freshman right-hander Justin Lewis (0-0, 0.00 ERA), freshman southpaw Daniel Tillo (0-0, 3.86 ERA), freshman lefty Josh Smith (0-0, 9.00 ERA), junior lefty Logan Salow (0-0, 10.12 ERA) and sophomore southpaw Brad Schaenzer (0-0, 27.00 ERA) have each appeared in two games.
Buffalo (3-3) has hit .251/.348/.387 through its first six games, with 31 runs scored, six doubles, one triple, four homers and four steals. Defensively, UB has fielded .963, turning three double plays and catching three runners stealing. On the mound, UB has a 6.23 ERA as a team with a pair of saves in 52 innings, allowing 60 hits and 23 walks, striking out 49 and holding opponents to a .283 average. Individually, Vinny Mallaro has led the team with seven hits, batting .412 with two doubles, one triple, one homer and five RBI. Mike Abrunzo has hit .375 with two doubles, one homer and four RBI. In the bullpen, Mike Kaelin (0-0, 2.70 ERA) has two saves in four appearances, fanning nine in 6.2 innings. Logan Harasta (0-0, 3.60 ERA) has also appeared in four games in relief.
UK leads the all-time series with Buffalo, 6-0, sweeping the last series in 2012 in Lexington. UK also swept the 2005 series with the Bulls in Lexington.
Records Kentucky: 5-4, 0-0 Southeastern Conference Buffalo: 3-3, 0-0 Mid-American Conference
Schedule (times Eastern and subject to change) -- Lexington, Ky. Friday, March 4 * vs. Buffalo * 4 p.m. Saturday, March 5 * vs. Buffalo * 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6 * vs. Buffalo * 1 p.m.
Television (SEC Network+) SEC Network+ and WatchESPN
Radio (UK Radio Network) Fox Sports 630-AM in Lexington
Internet Coverage Live audio and stats on UKathletics.com
Tentative Pitching Matchup Friday vs. Buffalo Jr., RHP Zack Brown (0-2, 9.00 ERA) vs. Jr., RHP Alec Tuohy (1-1, 4.35 ERA) Saturday vs. Buffalo Sr., RHP Dustin Beggs (2-0, 0.64 ERA) vs. Sr., LHP Brandon Mumaw (1-1, 4.85 ERA) Sunday vs. Buffalo Sr., RHP Kyle Cody (1-1, 2.61 ERA) vs. So., RHP Charlie Sobieraski (1-1, 7.36 ERA)
Stadium Cliff Hagan Stadium (3,000)
Parking Free gameday parking is available in the C-8 lot beyond rightfield and behind homeplate, or in the E lot adjacent to Cliff Hagan Stadium. The C-8 lot will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Once C-8 is filled, vehicles will be directed to park in the E lot next to Cliff Hagan Stadium. After the E lot is full, a limited amount of parking will be available in Parking Structure No. 7 on the ground floor. If you’re parking in PS#7, please exchange your ticket for a pink payment voucher at the ticket booth, prior to the end of the fourth inning. Additionally, overflow parking will be available in the smaller E lots close to Cooper Dr., as well as the C-6 lot at Commonwealth Stadium. All fans are asked to please follow the signage provided to the nearest parking location.
Tickets SINGLE-GAME TICKET PRICES $5 - General Admission Seating - Adults $2 - General Admission Seating - Kids/Seniors
SEASON TICKET PRICES $35 General Admission $55 Reserved Seating