LEXINGTON — Austin Cousino belted a first-inning homer and made an immaculate run-saving catch in centerfield, and Max Kuhn smashed a game-winning solo bomb in the eighth inning to lead No. 7 Kentucky to a 2-1 win over Michigan State in the series opener on Friday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

Cousino's run-saving catch in the seventh and his first-inning solo homer provided the difference entering the eighth inning. After the Spartans plated the game-tying run with a two-out bloop single into shallow centerfield in the top of the eighth inning, Kuhn led off the bottom of the frame.

Kuhn, a sophomore third baseman, ripped a 1-1 fastball over the fence in leftfield — his first career home run — to lift the Wildcats to a 2-1 lead.

UK then turned to right-hander Trevor Gott, working a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout for his third save of the year.

Sophomore southpaw A.J. Reed turned in the best start of his career. The standout, who earned this week's National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, SEC and Louisville Slugger Player of the Week honors, worked seven shutout innings, allowing only five singles and two walks, striking out five.

Michigan State at Kentucky

When: 2 p.m.

Radio: WWTF-AM 1580