Baseball is here for the BatCats

Spring Training has started for the big leagues but real baseball is already back for the Bat Cats.  
Braden Kapteyn belted a three-run homer but the Kentucky baseball team could not overcome a four-run inning in the third and a five-run frame in the sixth, as No. 20 College of Charleston posted a 11-6 season-opening win over the Wildcats.

Kentucky (0-1) was led offensively by Kapteyn, who hit a three-run homer to the opposite field in the third inning. UK junior Michael Williams added a pair of hits and a two-RBI double. Freshman Lucas Witt and senior Neiko Johnson each recorded hits, with Witt’s hit coming as his first career hit and Johnson adding a stolen base. Kapteyn and sophomore catcher Luke Maile led the Wildcats with two runs.

On the mound, UK sophomore right-hander Jordan Cooper made his ninth career start. A native of Shelbyville, Tenn., Cooper went three innings, allowed six hits and five runs. Cooper was relieved to start the fourth inning by freshman Louisville native Corey Littrell (0-1), who was solid through his first two innings – highlighted by striking out the side in the fifth inning – finished with 2.1 innings of work, with five hits, five runs, two walks and three strikeouts. UK senior Nick Kennedy tossed a shutout inning and sophomore Walt Wijas worked the final 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.

The Wildcats will return to action at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, facing Marshall (1-0), which picked up a win over Miami (Ohio) in extra innings on Friday. UK will start sophomore southpaw Taylor Rogers vs. Marshall junior left-hander Mike Mason.