Written by: Ainsley Saurers
Kentucky baseball hosted the Hofstra Lions in Kentucky Proud Park winning 6-1. This is their
second win over this team this weekend.
The starting line up for the Cats was: Luke Lawrence, Shaun Montoya, Cole Hage, Tyler Bell,
Carson Hansen, Ethan Hindle, Dylan Koontz, and Raphael Pelletier, and Patrick Herrera.
Starting on the mound was Ben Cleaver.
At the top of the first Hofstra’s Dylan Palmer was thrown out at first. Tyler Castrataro hit the ball,
but it landed in the glove of Montoya. Cleaver threw some heat, striking out the final batter, Tyler
Cox.
Lawrence stepped up to bat, but was thrown out at first. Montoya drove one to left field and
found himself on first base and then advanced, stealing second. Hage was walked and Montoya
stole third and Hage stole second. Bell walked to load up the bases. Hansen then hit Montoya
home and found himself at first. Hindle finished things up for the inning bringing another runner
home.
The second inning was a quick one for both teams. Bryce Curry struck out swinging, Trent
Jenks was thrown out at first, and CJ Griggs hit a ball to left field that was caught. Kentucky’s
Pelletier hit one out to left field, but it was caught, Herrera and Lawrence each hit one out to
center field and they were both caught.
Luke Masiuk hit a ball to center field and it was caught. Nick Biddle had a line drive to third, but
he was thrown out at first. Micheal Brown followed up with a ball to third as well, and was also
thrown out.
Kentucky still could not figure out how to get on base. Montoya hit one up the center, but it was
thrown out at first. Hage hit a foul ball that was caught. Bell grounded out to second, ending the
3rd inning.
Palmer drove a ball out to center field, but it was caught. Castrataro grounded out to the
shortstop, and Cox wrapped up the ending grounding out to second. Kentucky entered its third
inning where they did not make it on base.
Hansen popped on out to center field, but it was caught. Hindle mimicked hansent and hit the
ball up the center to also end up in the glove of a Hofstra player. Koontz hit a foul that was
caught.
Curry, Jenks, and Griggs were all thrown out at first to make for a quick top of the 5th. Pelletier
struck out swinging and Herrera hit a line drive to third, but was thrown out at first. Lawrence
wrapped things up grounding to shortstop. The score was still 2-0 entering the sixth inning.
Masiuk knocked the ball into center field but it was caught. Biddle grounded one out to the
shortstop and Brown landed a base hit, finally getting the Lions on base. Palmer hit a grounder
that resulted with Brown being out.
Montoya hit a foul that was caught and Hage had a base hit to get to first. Bell hit one up the
center, but it was caught and Hage stole second. Hansen hit the ball 408 feet away over the
right field wall to get two more runs on the board for the Cats. Hindle hit a double, and Koontz
ended the out hitting a ball in center that was caught.
Castrataro grounded out to the shortstop, Cox was thrown out at first, and Bryce Curry struck
out swinging, still no runs for Hofstra.
Pelletier hit one up right field, but it was caught. Herrera hit a single to get on first base.
Lawrence mimicked and hit a single letting Herrera advance to second, and getting himself on
first base. Both runners advanced on a balk, and Montoya hit Herrera home and ended up on
first. Montoya stole second and Hage walked. Bell hit Lawrence home, and then Hansen struck
out looking to finish things up.
Jenks was hit by a pitch which later on ended up being overturned. He sailed one up the center,
but it was caught. Aidan Gallagher was walked and then Kentucky had a pitching change.
Pulling out Cleaver and putting in Robert Hogan. On a wild pitch, Gallagher advanced. Masiuk
hit one to left that was caught. Biddle capped things off by hitting to second, where Gallagher
got out.
Hudson Brown hit one up the center that was caught and Koontz grounded out to first. Pelletier
hit one up the center to get on first and then stole second. Herrera was walked on a wild pitch
and Pelletier stole third. Lawrence filed out to left to finish things up.
The Lions only managed one run before the game was called, the final score being 6-1. The
Cats will return to Proud Park Sunday, to play Hofstra one last time.
Photo: Kentucky Kernel
