By Nick Gray | @KYKernelGray

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A career best effort by senior left handed pitcher Jerad Grundy lead UK baseball to a 7-0 win over Akron Saturday in the second game of a three-game series at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

Grundy went a career-high eight innings, allowing two hits and striking out 12, also a career high. Grundy faced two batters over the minimum in his 86 pitch effort.

Sophomore designated hitter A.J. Reed started the offensive output with a solo home run to right field to give the Cats a 1-0 lead. It was Reed’s fourth home run of the season and second in as many games.

UK would plate three runs in both the 5th and the 6th innings. The Cats were aided in the 5th inning by a two-out error by Akron sophomore third baseman Matt Larocca off the bat of senior right fielder Zac Zellers, which scored freshman catcher Greg Fettes. Zellers would also score in the inning on a single by junior infielder J.T. Riddle, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Reed hit 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored along with his home run.

UK and Akron will conclude the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Cliff Hagan Stadium, with Cats junior left-handed pitcher Corey Littrell (0-0, 6.52 ERA) scheduled to face Zips freshman right handed pitcher J.T. Brubaker (0-2, 5.25 ERA).