UK baseball ends nonconference with series against Ball State
March 7, 2014
STAFF REPORT
Confidence is at an all-time high for UK baseball as it prepares to face Ball State University in its final non-conference weekend series of the season.
Winners of their last nine games, the No. 23 Cats (11-2) are riding an explosive offense heading in to Friday’s matchup. The team leads the SEC in batting average, home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage.
The first four hitters in the lineup are hitting a collective .381 average while racking in 56 RBI. Two of the biggest contributors to the top half of the production are junior centerfielder Austin Cousino and junior first baseman A.J. Reed.
Cousino is hitting a team-leading .446 on the season with six doubles, two triples and one home run. He is also showing off his speed during the non-conference portion of the schedule, stealing a team-high seven bases. Cousino is currently on an eight-game hitting streak.
Reed’s strength has been his biggest benefit in the first 13 games. He leads the nation in home runs with seven. He also leads the SEC in RBI with 24. Reed will head into the weekend series riding the longest hitting-game streak on the team at 15. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Barrett also owns a 15-game hitting streak.
Reed has also shown his dual-threat skills by going a perfect 3-0 on the mound with a 1.00 earned run average in three starts. The left hander will have the chance to extend his undefeated streak on Friday when he takes the mound.
The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.