Kentucky
Mason Moore Sparkles, No. 25 Kentucky Defeats Kennesaw State, 5-2
No. 25 Kentucky rebounded from its first losing streak of the season, defeating Kennesaw State, 5-2, in the series finale. Junior Mason Moore was exceptional for the Wildcats, pitching a career high 7.0 innings, recording the first 19 outs before allowing a hit.
The Morehead, Ky. native finished the day allowing one hit, one run, zero earned runs, three walks, and striking out three. He is the first Wildcat since Zack Lee in 2021 to pitch at least seven innings allowing one hit or less and only the second to do so since Justin Lewis pitched eight innings of one-hit ball against Florida in 2018.
Offensively, the Cats (13-3, 0-0 SEC) turned in multi-hit days from Émilien Pitre and Devin Burkes, helping Kentucky plate a series-high five runs. Mitchell Daly also added a two-RBI performance on the day, as the Wildcats were able to bounce back from the first two games on the series.
On the mound, Moore was relieved by Evan Byers and Trey Pooser, who helped limit the Owls, who scored 23 combined runs in the first two games, to just two runs. Pooser earned the save, his second of the season, as he struck out three batters in 1.1 innings, including escaping an eighth-innning jam that saw the go-ahead run come to the plate.
The Wildcats were able to open the scoring for the first time this weekend, plating a first inning run after back-to-back two-out doubles from Nick Lopez and Pitre. In the third, the Owls would tie the game at one, as a two-base error to lead off the inning came home on a sacrifice fly.
Kentucky put up three runs in the fourth to take the lead for good, as the Wildcats scored multiple runs in an inning for the first time in the series. After Pitre and Burkes were issued back-to-back free passes, Patrick Herrera drove in the go-ahead run, scoring Pitre from second. An error in the outfield advanced the runners to second and third, allowing Daly to drive in the eventual game winner on a sacrifice bunt. Ryan Nicholson followed with a sacrifice bunt of his own to bring the score to 4-1 after four.
This score held until the eighth, with the Owls pulled within two on a two-out RBI double. Kennesaw State had the go-ahead run at the plate, but a looking strikeout from Pooser ended the treat. In the bottom of the innings, the Wildcats added an insurance run, as singles from Pitre and Burkes, followed by a walk to Herrera loaded the bases for Daly, who earned his second RBI of the day on a groundout. A leadoff single in the ninth would be no problem for Pooser, who struck out the final two batters of the game to finish off the win.
NOTES
- Kentucky now is 13-3 in 2024.
- Kentucky is 11-3 in day games.
- Kentucky is 7-2 at home.
- Kentucky is 2-1 following a loss.
- Kentucky is 38-7 vs. non-conference foes (including the Lexington Regional) since the beginning of the 2023 season.
- UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his eighth season at the helm and now owns a 229-153 career record.
- Mingione needs 29 victories to become the second-winningest coach in school history.
- UK is 91-36 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
- Mingione is 146-43 in non-conference games overall.
- Mingione is 127-18 vs. non-Power Five opponents.
- Kentucky is 2-1 in 2024 in three-game series.
- The Wildcats swept USC Upstate and Lipscomb before going 1-2 against Kennesaw State.
- Kentucky started at least three freshmen for the fifth time this season.
- Kentucky is 5-0 in those games.
- The Wildcats smacked three doubles today.
- It was the sixth time this season the Cats hit at least three doubles.
- Three Wildcats were hit by a pitch.
- They were the first hit batsmen in the series for the Kentucky offense.
- Today was the seventh time Kentucky has earned at least three HBP in a game this season.
- Junior RHP Mason Moore earned the win on the mound, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing one hit, one unearned run, and a walk, while striking out three.
- Moore took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, allowing a one-out double to Jackson Chirello.
- Moore’s seven innings pitched is a new career high.
- Moore is the first Kentucky pitched to throw seven innings with one hit or fewer since Zack Lee in 2021 (Alabama).
- Graduate RHP Trey Pooser earned his second save of the season, tossing the final 1.1 innings.
- Pooser allowed no runs on two hits, while also striking out three Owl batters.
- Junior INF Émilien Pitre finished 2-for-3, including an RBI double.
- He also scored two runs, and drew a walk.
- It was his eighth multi-hit game of the season, and 26th of his career.
- Junior C Devin Burkes also went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored a run.
- He hit his first double of the season in the sixth inning, the 23rd two-bagger of his career.
- Today marked his third multi-hit day of the season and 23rd multi-hit game of his career.
- Junior IF/OF Patrick Herrera went 1-for-2, with an RBI, run, and a walk.
- Herrera has now reached safely in 14 consecutive games.
- Senior IF Mitchell Daly drove in two runs on a SAC bunt and a groundout.
- Sunday was his second multi-RBI game of the season.
ON DECK
The Wildcats will continue their season-long eight game homestand on Tuesday night, hosting in-state foe Murray State on March 12. The contest between the Cats and the Racers will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed on the SECN+, with radio coverage available on 98.5 FM (Lexington) and UKAthletics.com.
Top headlines of the week, May 8 2026
Here are some stories you may have missed this week in central Ohio.
Authorities said a body recovered May 4 from the Ohio River in northeast Kentucky has been identified as a Columbus man, Dispatch news partner NBC4/WMCH-TV reported.
Lewis County Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the body has been identified as Jason D. Frisbie, 38, of Columbus. Bivens said authorities in Kentucky worked with Ohio officials to identify Frisbie this week.
Bivens said Lewis County took a call around 4:30 p.m. May 4 about a body in the river in Vanceburg, Kentucky, a few miles south of Ohio’s Shawnee State Park. Bivens said responding agencies took the body to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office.
Lewis County authorities asked for public help identifying the body. On May 9, Bivens confirmed Frisbie’s identity after working with Ohio officials and local responders.
Bivens said the death remains under investigation, and authorities did not offer information about a suspected cause.
Kentucky
Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped Friday evening from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt, police said.
The Morehead Police Department warned the surrounding community that two inmates had “walked away” from the Rowan County Detention Center.
Investigators said multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the escapees, with Kentucky State Police leading the investigation.
“These inmates should be considered dangerous,” police said, warning the community not to approach anyone suspicious or unfamiliar.
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. (Morehead Police Department)
One of the inmates was identified as Michael Fogleman, 29, who is described as 6 feet tall and 188 pounds.
He has short or closely shaved hair and a short beard along his jawline and chin, according to police.
The second inmate was identified as James Smallwood, 52, who is listed at 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 215 pounds.
MANHUNTS ACROSS AMERICA IN 2025: FIVE CASES THAT LEFT CITIES, CAMPUSES AND TOWNS ON EDGE
Michael Fogleman, 29, is one of two inmates who escaped from a Kentucky detention center, police said. (Morehead Police Department)
He is described as having a medium to stocky build with gray facial hair around the mouth and chin area.
Smallwood was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and possibly a hat, police said.
James Smallwood, 52, is one of two inmates on the run after escaping from a Kentucky jail, authorities said. (Morehead Police Department)
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and call 911 immediately if they see anything suspicious or have information about the escapees.
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Law enforcement agencies are searching for two escaped inmates in Kentucky, authorities said. (Silas Walker/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service)
Investigators said they will provide more information as it becomes available.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kentucky State Police and Rowan County Detention Center for comment.
The Kentucky high school 2026 outdoor track and field season has been exceptional, especially the girls competition.
In particular, the sprints and horizontal jumps.
Long Jump Leaders Set the Pace
First, the long jump.
Christian Educational Consortium’s Jade Hartlage, a rising superstar of track and field in its totality, has the state’s leading jump, 19feet, 9 inches, set March 26. She is partially homeschooled and not eligible for in KHSAA postseason.
Hartlage’s mark is followed by Simon Kenton’s Alexis Howard (19-0, March 26). Howard is another standout athlete. She was selected as a 2025 All-State Honorable Mention in soccer. Howard won the 3A indoor title in early March, recording a mark of 18-7 1/4.
Howard, Svidal Among Top Contenders
Walden School senior Natalie Svidal sailed to an 18-4 1/2 mark at the Walden Small School Championships May 5. That ties her for third in the state with Taleigha Nash of Great Crossing High School.
Triple Jump Competition Tightens
In the triple jump, Howard is atop the performance list. She leapt 40-5, April 25.
However, Svidal is close. She recorded 40-2 1/4 this past week.
Multi-Sport Stars Making Impact
Teigh Yeast, yet another standout athlete, who helped George Rogers Clark win a state basketball title in March and is a Robert Morris University basketball commit, logged a 40-0 1/2 jump April 21. Yeast was last season’s 3A champion at 39-5.25.
How Kentucky Stacks Up Nationally
Perspective and context need to be applied here. Here’s how Kentucky compares nationally.
National Benchmarks Set the Bar
Parker Coes of Morton Ranch High School (Katy, Texas) has surpassed 21 feet twice in 2026. Abigail Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa) is approaching the 21-foot threshold.
Coes’ marks were achieved in the early indoor season. The Texan has jumped 20-10 1/2 outdoors (April 3) but her last mark was 18-11 3/4, May 2.
Mecklenburg is yet to replicate her indoor marks outdoors.
The top outdoor jump so far in 2026 is 42-7.5, set by Daniela Hughes of Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California).
A significant challenge for the Bluegrass jumpers to surpass. But if there is a season for top-10 national rankings or records.
State Records Within Reach
With that said, the Kentucky state records are potentially breakable in the next two weeks. The current records are 20-4 (Maxine Graham, Fleming County High School, 1975) and 41-7 (Sophie Galloway, Marshall County High School, 2021).
Each has the speed and explosiveness to challenge those marks.
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