JaVon Shelby homers twice, drives in 7 in UK’s win at Georgia

JaVon Shelby hit two home runs and a triple to drive in seven runs in the Kentucky baseball team’s 14-6 win over Georgia in the series rubber match on Sunday afternoon at Foley Field in Athens, Ga.

Kentucky (14-5, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) used the career outing from Shelby, a junior third baseman out of Tates Creek, to earn its third consecutive series road win at Georgia.

“This was awesome,” Shelby said. “I believe this is our first Sunday win where we can travel back on a bus since I’ve been here. …It’s going to be an awesome bus ride home.”

Shelby’s seven RBI were the most for a UK player in a game since Ryan Wilkes had eight against Wright State in 2008.

“Today I just slowed down my swing, slowed down my mind and had success,” Shelby said.

The Wildcats also got a two-hit game from Gunnar McNeill, who drove in a run. Kole Cottam and Luke Becker each had a pair of hits and an RBI. Evan White scored a career-high five runs, the most for a UK player since 2009.

UK starter Kyle Cody worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs, walking two and striking out three. He was relieved by Zach Strecker in the fourth to escape the jam.

Zach Logue (1-0) worked through the fifth inning to pick up his first win of the season. Justin Lewis, a native of Suwanee, Ga., came on in the sixth and pitched four scoreless innings, allowing just a hit and walk while striking out three to earn his third save of the year.

Kentucky will return to action on Tuesday, hosting Morehead State at 6:30 p.m. at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

This story was originally published March 20, 2016 at 6:32 PM with the headline "JaVon Shelby homers twice, drives in 7 in UK’s win at Georgia."