Kentucky State (6-1) recorded its second no-hitter of the season following Joe Crisp’s no-hit conference foe Clark Atlanta one week ago on February 16. It is the first time KSU has tossed two no-hitters in the same season and the third no-hitter in school history. Thorobreds starting pitcher Greg Tye, making his second start of the season, struck out seven in pitching his first collegiate no-hitter defeating Cedarville University 6-0 in game two of the scheduled doubledheader as they earned a split.
In the game, Tye did not have a real threat. In the second inning he walked Cedarville’s designated hitter Allan Perry. The next batter for the Yello Jackets, third baseman Connor Culhane, grounded into an inning ending double play as the defense helped Tye get out of the inning. In the fifth inning after Perry pop foulout to Kentucky State catcher Jared Pierce, Tye walked the next batter and then picked off the runner for the second out. Following the pick off, Cedarville’s Elijah Sanchez hit a deep fly down the left field line. KSU left fielder Cameron Starks’ diving catch ended any possible threat from the Yellow Jackets.
The Thorobreds bats came alive putting up a six-run fourth inning scoring the games only runs. Starks singled off of Cedarville starter Trace Gillis and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jordan Ransom singled to right field sending Starks to third. After Ransom stole second, Jay Poullard doubled to right field plated both Ransom and Starks for a 2-0 lead.
KSU would tack on more runs in the inning. After the Yellow Jackets pitching change, Adren Thompson reached on catcher’s interference. With two men on base, a bunt single off the bat of Jace Wilson loaded the bases. Russell Sims three-run doubled to right field cleared the bases for a 5-0 lead. Dom Lawson brought home Sims with a double for the 6-0 win.
Tye fired a perfect sixth and seventh inning before ending the game with a groundout to go (2-0) for the season.
For the second time in a week, Kentucky State pitcher threw a gem. Tye’s no-no statline – 7 innings pitched, 0 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts and no allowed runs while facing “the minimum 21 hitters for a 7-inning game.”
Kentucky State head coach Rob Henry stated “Greg gave us a lift after a tough loss in game one. He came out and set the tone early by landing multiple pitches for strikes and was backed up by a great defensive effort. Greg commanded both halves of the plate and ran into the threat of giving up a hit only once, with Cam Starks making a great diving play on a deep fly ball to left. Otherwise, Greg had their hitters off-balance most of the game. It’s pretty special to have a single no-hitter, but two no-hitters in the same week is almost unheard of.”
Several KSU players had multi-hits in game 2. Both Ransom and Stark went 2-for-3 at the plate. Sims 1-for-3, 1 double, 3 runs batted in, Lawson’s one hit was a double with a run scored and Poullard collected one hit with one run driven in.
In game one, Cedarville defeated Kentucky State 6-4 as they left eight men in scoring position and committed five miscues. Cedarville jumped on the Thorobreds for a 4-0 after three innings.
Kentucky State fought back with three runs in the fifth inning the tying run was out at the plate still down 4-3.
The Yellow Jackets added insurances runs in the sixth and eighth innings.
Kentucky State loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning but a ground ball double play ended the threat. Joe Crisp, 2-1, took his first loss of the season.