The Kentucky Wildcats picked up a pair of victories Sunday as they swept a doubleheader from the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies at Kentucky Proud Park.

Game 1:

Oakland wasted no time jumping on Kentucky starter Alex Degen in the top of the first as Blake Griffith singled home Mario Camilletti to put the Grizzlies in front 1-0.

The Grizzlies lead did not last long as UK put up a three-spot in the bottom half of the first. TJ Collett tied the game with an RBI double to score Jaren Shelby and later in the inning, Oraj Anu clubbed a two-run home run to put the Cats on top 3-1.

Kentucky added on to their lead in the bottom of the second as Collett worked a bases-loaded walk and both Anu and John Rhodes hit run-scoring ground balls to put UK on top 6-1.

Oakland would get two runs back in the top of the fourth as Griffith hit a ground ball to score Cam Post and Michael Stygles hit a one-run single to cut the UK lead to 6-3 and chase Degen from the game after just 3.1 innings of work.

The Grizzlies crept even closer in the top of the fifth as Stygles lined a two-run double off of UK reliever Zack Lee to cut the lead to 6-5. 

UK’s offense wouldn’t let the game slip away as in the bottom of the fifth, Austin Schultz crushed a grand slam to put the Cats up 10-5. Schultz’s grand slam was followed up with a solo home run by Collett as Kentucky pushed the lead to 11-5.

Oakland would plate a run in the top of the eighth on a Camilletti sac-fly, but it would be far too little too late as the Cats closed out a game one victory.

Final Score: UK 11, Oakland 6

Game 2:

Like game one, Oakland got on the board in the top of the first as Griffith hit an infield single to score Post to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead. 

The Cats would tie the game in the bottom of the second as Drew Grace laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Tanner Holen.

In the bottom of the third, the Kentucky offense exploded. Collett gave the Cats the lead with a single up the middle to score Shelby. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Holen delivered an infield single to push the lead to 3-1. Then both, Zeke Lewis and Grace continued to move the line as they both delivered two-run singles to give UK a 7-1 lead. The rally did not end there as both Shelby and Rhodes delivered a one-run singles and Collett hit a bases-clearing double to put Kentucky up 12-1. 

The Cats would add another in the bottom of the sixth as Chase Estep ripped an RBI double to put the Cats on top 13-1.

While UK piled up runs, starting pitcher, Jimmy Ramsey held Oakland to one run as he tossed five innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts to earn the win. 

Oakland would plate a run in the top of the seventh, but it would not be enough to avoid the 10-run rule as UK closed out the game in seven innings.

Final Score: UK 13, Oakland 2 

With two wins Sunday, Kentucky (10-6) extended their winning streak to five. They’ll be back in action Tuesday when they host Western Kentucky before opening conference play against Vanderbilt in Nashville on Friday.

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