UK baseball adjusts schedule after opponent’s former pitcher dies in plane crash
The University of Kentucky baseball team has adjusted its schedule for this weekend because of a deadly plane crash involving an opponent.
The Wildcats were originally slated to host the Bradley Braves for a three-game series at Kentucky Proud Park beginning Friday. That series has been canceled so that members of the Bradley program can attend the memorial services for former starting pitcher Mitch Janssen, who was among three people killed in the crash of a four-seat single-engine plane on Interstate 55 in Lincoln, Ill., on Tuesday. Illinois State Police reported that Jannsen was the pilot.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash but has not yet released information about the cause or the plane’s destination. Jannsen, 22, was named Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference as a senior last season. His Facebook page identifies him as a pilot for Air Wisconsin and a flight instructor for Synergy Flight Center.
“On behalf of Kentucky baseball and all of Big Blue Nation we offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Janssen family, Bradley baseball and the entire Bradley University community,” UK head coach Nick Mingione said in a statement released by the school.
The Bradley series will not be rescheduled. Kentucky (7-6) will still host three games this weekend, beginning with Norfolk State on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Wildcats will face Oakland University in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday.
UK has won back-to-back games over Cincinnati and Murray State after being swept in a three-game series against North Carolina-Wilmington last weekend. Against the Racers, freshman John Rhodes belted a walk-off home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Cats a 9-8 victory.
This weekend
At Kentucky Proud Park
6 p.m. Saturday: Kentucky vs. Norfolk State
1 p.m. Sunday: Kentucky vs. Oakland (doubleheader)
