LEXINGTON, Ky. – Austin Schultz went 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, home run and four RBI, and Kentucky (1-3) used a four-run eighth inning to get by Southeast Missouri (1-3), 9-4, Tuesday at Proud Park.
Clinging to a one-run lead, UK pulled away for good in the bottom of the eighth.
Coltyn Kessler and Schultz started things off with back-to-back doubles. John Rhodes later hit a two-RBI triple and Drew Grace knocked in the other run on a sacrifice fly to widen the Wildcats lead to 9-4.
Twelve SEMO hitters were on base in the first four innings of play.
UK took a 2-0 lead after scoring once in the first and third innings.
Leadoff hitter Elliott Curtis reached on an error and went to second on Oraj Anu's ensuing base hit to right. T.J. Collett followed with a single to load the bases. With one out after a fielder's choice, Schultz grounded out and Anu scored an unearned run.
The Wildcats tacked on another run in the bottom of the third when Anu touched home on a two-out single by Schultz.
SEMO took its first lead with three runs in the top of the fourth.
Austin Blazevic singled and Wade Stauss walked to give the Redhawks two quick baserunners. After Peyton Leeper moved the runners on a sacrifice-bunt, Connor Basler got Blazevic home on a bunt of his own. Danny Wright later delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to put SEMO ahead, 3-2.
UK regained the lead during its at-bat in the fourth inning with a pair of unearned runs. Jaren Shelby and Rhodes touched home on a throwing error.
SEMO and UK exchanged leads again in the fifth inning.
Justin Dirden was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on two-out double by Stauss in the top of the frame. Schultz launched a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to give the Wildcats a 5-4 edge and they didn't relinquish the lead.
Daniel Harper (1-0) picked up the win in relief allowing one run on four hits, while striking out four and walking none in 2.2 innings. Alex Degen was credited with his first save of the season.
Bryan McNeely (0-1) suffered the loss in his first start of the season. McNeely struck out one, walked one and gave up five runs on six hits in 4.2 innings.
SEMO outhit UK, 11-10. The Redhawks 11 hits are a season-high just four games into the 2020 campaign.
Wright (3-for-5), Andrew Keck (2-for-5) and Tyler Wilber (2-for-5) combined for seven hits in the top three spots of the Redhawks lineup.
SEMO hosts Mid-American Conference member Northern Illinois in a four-game series at Capaha Field on Feb. 21-23.
