2/25/2018 baseball Edit

RECAP: Kentucky Wildcats bash three HRs to wrap up sweep of Oakland

Kentucky's T.J. Collett (5) received a celebratory forearm bash from Kole Cottam after hitting his fourth home run of a weekend series against Oakland. (Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated)

Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated

Managing Editor

Joined the Cats Illustrated staff in the summer of 2017. Veteran reporter and photographer who has covered UK sports dating back to 1987.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The biggest question facing eighth-ranked Kentucky heading into the season was how would the pitching-blessed Wildcats replace so many key hitters from last year's regional championship squad.

If this weekend's three-game sweep of Oakland is any indication, UK has some answers.

Kentucky (7-1) pounded the Grizzlies 15-6 on Sunday at Cliff Hagan Stadium, recording 13 hits and bashing three home runs. The Cats outscored the visitors from Michigan 42-13 during the three-game set, tallying 43 hits and seven long balls.

T.J. Collett, a sophomore designated hitter considered as one of the top MLB prospects for 2019, belted four home runs in the series, bringing his season total to five. He drove in three runs on Sunday, pushing his team-leading total to 17.

Newcomer Ryan Johnson and Luke Heyer also hit two-run blasts on Sunday.

Kole Cottam (3), Luke Becker (2), Johnson (2) and Heyer (2) all had multi-hit games for the Cats. Troy Squires added a hit, three walks and a pair of RBI for UK.

That kind of run support made it easy for junior right-hander Justin Lewis (2-0) who allowed four runs on five hits and one walk over six innings of work, striking out a career-high 11 batters.

Oakland (1-7) starter Conor Bowers (0-2) lasted only 1.2 innings on the mound. He allowed seven runs on six hits and four walks. The Cats blew the game open with a seven-run second inning after the Grizzlies had taken a 2-0 lead in the first.

Kentucky returns to action Tuesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium against Western Kentucky. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. ET.