Kentucky baseball beats Evansville by three touchdowns

The Wildcats (5-1) scored the sixth-most runs in school history, most in 11 seasons and most in Kentucky Proud Park’s seven-year history as it pounded Evansville into submission with a 24-3 victory on Tuesday night in front of 2,880 fans.

UK wasted no time taking control with a seven-run first inning that featured Dylan Koontz’s first home run in blue and bookended it with a nine-run sixth inning that led to the run-rule victory. Freshman righty Nate Harris earned his first career collegiate win in his first appearance by allowing just two runs in 4.0 innings. Senior OF Cole Hage also homered – and doubled – and senior catcher Devin Burkes went 4-for-5 with five runs, four RBI, three doubles and a stolen base.

The Cats’ first appearance in their home ballpark since the 2024 Super Regional was another outing it won’t soon forget. UK scored its most runs since 26 against Ball State in March 2014 and most in the coach Nick Mingione era. It also was the perfect way to open a stretch of 10 games in 14 days.

Pitchers Tristan Hunter and Tommy Skelding each added scoreless innings of work in their UK debuts. On the offensive side, 11 players had a hit, 12 scored a run and the Cats had six stolen bases.

NOTES
Kentucky is 5-1 on the season.
The 24 runs are tied for the sixth-most in school history.
They are the most since 2014 (26, vs. Ball State, March 9)
They are the most in Kentucky Proud Park history.
UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 267-167 career record.
Mingione now is the second-winningest coach in school history.
UK is 51-18 in the month of February under Coach Mingione.
Mingione is 156-46 in non-conference games overall and 136-20 vs. non-Power Five opponents.
Mingione now is 6-0 vs. Evansville.
UK has outscored its opponents 59-12 on the season.
Senior Devin Burkes went 4-for-5 with five runs, four RBI, three doubles and a stolen base.
His three doubles are the second time he’s done that in his career and tie the record for most in a game in the Mingione era.
He moved into 38th place on UK’s career hits list.
The five runs scored tie for the most in the Mingione era (Chase Estep, Ryan Johnson).
Senior Cole Hage went 3-for-4 with three runs, an RBI and a home run.
It was his second home run of the season.
Senior Dylan Koontz went 1-for-3 with two runs, three RBI, a home run, a HBP and a sacrifice fly.
Freshman RHP Nate Harris made his collegiate debut and earned the win.
RHP Tristan Hunter and RHP Tommy Skelding also each made their debut.
Each had a scoreless inning.

ON DECK
Kentucky is right back at it Wednesday afternoon in a delayed meeting with Morehead State at 4 p.m. ET at Kentucky Proud Park. The game will be streamed on SECN+ and radio will be carried by the UK Sports Network.