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Hjelle Flirts with No-Hitter in 10-1 Win

Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)

 

Kentucky junior right-hander Sean Hjelle put on a show in front of the fans at Cliff Hagan Stadium Friday night, nearly tossing a no-hitter in a 10-1 win vs. Oakland.

 

The reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year was in a zone on the mound, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Hjelle finally gave up his first hit of the night with two outs in the top of the 8th on a two-strike single off the bat of Jordan Jackson. For the game, Hjelle pitched 7.2 innings, giving up just one hit and no walks while striking out 13.

 

In all this season, Hjelle has pitched 13.2 innings, giving up just three hits while allowing a single run, walking three, and striking out 16. The Minnesota native is now 2-0 on the season.

 

 

With Hjelle taking care of things on the mound, the Kentucky bats provided plenty of run support to allow him to work. Kole Cottam got things started with a lead-off walk in the bottom of the 2nd, followed by a double down the left field line by Ryan Johnson. With two Cats on and nobody out, Ryan Shinn drove in Cottam on a fielding error by the first baseman. Alex Rodriguez followed with a perfectly placed safety squeeze that scored Johnson and advanced Shinn to second.

 

Leading 2-0, Trey Dawson walked and Troy Squires double down the right-field line plated Shinn. Dawson came around to score on an RBI single by Ben Aklinski and Squires scored the fifth and final run of the inning off a single by TJ Collett.

 

The Cats added two more runs in the bottom of the third. Johnson got things started with a leadoff double down the left field line and Shinn’s single to center set up runners on the corners with no outs. Rodriguez struck out swinging but Shinn stole second on the pitch. A walk to Dawson loaded the bases and Squires came through again with a 2 RBI single to center field that scored Johnson and Shinn. Squires was later thrown out trying to steal second but Dawson scored on the play to give Kentucky an 8-0 lead after three innings.

 



 

The Wildcats added two more runs in the bottom of the 6th off a solo home run from Collett and a single off the bat of Johnson that scored Cottam, who doubled earlier in the inning.

 

Freshman Trip Lockhart came on in relief of Hjelle to record the final out of the 8th and redshirt freshman Brett Marshall tossed the final inning of the game, giving up the only Oakland run.

 

No. 8 Kentucky moves to 5-1 on the season and weather permitting they will play game two vs. Oakland on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

 



 

Scoring

 

Bottom 2nd – Kole Cottam walked. Ryan Johnson doubled down the LF line, Cottam advanced to third. Ryan Shinn reached on a fielding error by 1B, RBI, Cottam scored, Johnson advanced to third. Alex Rodriguez grounded out to P, SAC, RBI, Johnson scored, Shinn advanced to second. Trey Dawson walked. Troy Squires doubled down the RF line, RBI, scoring Shinn, Dawson advanced to third. Ben Aklinski singled to second base, scoring Dawson, Squires advanced to third. TJ Collett singled through the right side, RBI, Squires scored, unearned. UK 5, Oakland 0

 

Bottom 3rd – Ryan Johnson doubled down the LF line. Ryan Shinn singled to center field, Johnson advanced to third. Shinn stole second. Trey Dawson walked. Troy Squires singled to center field, 2 RBI, Johnson and Shinn scored, Dawson advanced to third. Squires caught stealing at second, Dawson scored. UK 8, Oakland 0.

 

Bottom 6th – TJ Collet homered to right field, RBI. Kole Cottam doubled to right field. Ryan Johnson singled to right field, RBI, scoring Cottam. UK 10, Oakland 0.

 

Top 9th – Ryan Fitzgerald doubled to right field. Ben Hart singled to left field, RBI, Fitzgerald scored. UK 10, Oakland 1.

 



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