LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Riley Mahan knocked in two runs on three hits, right-hander Sean Hjelle allowed Ohio eight hits while top-seeded Kentucky got 13 in a 6-4 victory  Friday in the opener of the NCAA Tournament Lexington Regional.
Hosting their first regional since 2006, the Wildcats (40-20) gave Hjelle a two-run cushion in the first inning when Luke Becker and Mahan each delivered RBI hits.
Kentucky added four runs in the middle innings, scoring twice in the sixth on bases-loaded walks to make it 6-0. Every Kentucky batter had at least one hit to help the Wildcats end a two-game slide.
That offense came in handy as No. 4 seed Ohio (31-27) finally broke through on Hjelle (10-3) in the eighth on Rudy Rott’s three-run homer. Logan Salow gave up a run in the ninth but earned his 11th save.
Kentucky will face the North Carolina State-Indiana winner on Saturday, while the Bobcats (31-27) will face the loser.
Ohio    000    000    031    =    4    9    0
Kentucky    200    112    00x    =    6    13    0
Klein, Ogg (5), Rudinicki (6), Blessing (6) and Bredeson. HJelle, Machamer (8), Salow (9) and Squires. W-Hjelle (IP-7.0, K-3, BB-3, R-3, ER-3, H-8). Save-Salow (IP-1.0, K-1, BB-1, R-1, ER-1, H-1). L-Klein (IP-4.0, K-1, BB-5, R-3, ER-3, H-8). Hitting-Ohio: Ibarra 1-5, Black 2-5 RBI, Rott 2-4 3-RBI, Klein 1-3, Callery 1-4, Garcia 2-3; UK-Ompey 1-4 RBI, White 2-5, Reks 1-3, Becker 2-5 RBI, Mahan 3-5 2-RBI, Squires 1-3, Marshall 1-2 RBI, Heady 1-4 RBI.