Sophomore sizzles in relief appearance, but 8 walks haunt UK in season opener
Last season the University of Kentucky baseball team struggled to find consistency out of the bullpen, which contributed mightily to its disappointing finish at the bottom of the standings in the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division. Though the Wildcats opened the 2020 season with a loss, a sophomore pitcher offered fans some hope that this year things might be different.
Alex Degen struck out four of the five batters he faced in Kentucky’s 5-1 season-opening loss at Texas Christian University on Friday. It was the first of a three-game series against the 20th-ranked Horned Frogs. Game two was schedule for Saturday afternoon, while the series finale will be played Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
On Friday, TCU scored two runs on a triple and had runners on the corners with one out when Degen took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh. He fanned back-to-back batters to end the inning and give the Cats a reasonable chance at a comeback. After UK was unable to capitalize off Breydon Daniel’s lead-off double, Degen struck out two more and retired the side in order in the eighth.
Jimmy Ramsey took the loss for the Wildcats, allowing one earned run and four hits over four innings while striking out two. The Horned Frogs scored three runs in the first, taking advantage of two walks and a fielding error. Kentucky pulled within 3-1 in the top of the fifth when Cam Hill followed Austin Schultz’s triple with an RBI single. Schultz has now reached base safely in 41 of his last 43 games.
Ramsey, Hunter Rigsby and Daniel Harper combined to allow eight walks in the game. Degen retired all five batters he faced.
Last season Degen appeared in 16 games, recording a 1-0 record and 5.60 ERA in 17 2/3 innings. He appeared to turn a corner after his freshman year when he played for the Savannah Bananas in the Coastal Plain League last summer. Degen made 17 relief appearances for the Bananas, going 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA and collecting four saves as he helped the team win its division title. Degen was named to the all-league first team.
The Wildcats open their home schedule against Southeast Missouri State at Kentucky proud Park Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Next game
Kentucky at Texas Christian
When: 1:30 p.m. Sunday
Radio: WBUL-98.5
Live video broadcast: Streamed live for free on the TCU baseball website.
This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 3:40 PM.
