Explosive 4th Inning Put Wildcats out of Reach

The Kentucky Wildcat churned out six runs in the fourth inning on four hits, including a home run and a triple, to ultimately defeat the Kansas Jayhawk 8-to-5 in Karbach Round Rock Classic. 

Kentucky’s Evan Byers took home the win, tossing three scoreless, hitless innings to close out the game.  Kansas Patrick Steitz suffered the loss, allowing seven runs, only one earned, on seven hits. 

The Jayhawks started the scoring in the second inning with Cooper Combs’s sacrifice fly to right field, plating Michael Brooks.  Brooks reached base on a double. 

Kentucky responded with a run in the top of the third.  Devin Burkes’s single brought home Grant Smith. Smith reached base on a single, advance to second on an infield ground-out, and took third on a wild pitch. 

The Wildcats fourth inning rally started after the first two batters struck-out swinging.  James McCoy took first base on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on Grant Smith’s single.  Kentucky loaded the bases when Ryan Waldschmidt reached on a throwing error.  Patrick Herrera brought the runners home on a triple to right field.  A walk to Devein Burkes set the stage for Eilien Pitre going yard. 

Kansas worked to close the gap with one run in the fifth inning when Brooks plated Lenny Ashby.  The added three additional runs in the seventh inning, starting with Ashby’s solo home run. Chase Jans’ bases-loaded single brought home Jake English, and Combs’ sacrifice fly plated Janson Reeder. 

Kentucky added an insurance run in the eighth  when McCoy scored on Waldschmidt’s single.