2017 King of the Hill Individual Champion
WKU Dean's List (Fall 2016, Spring 2017)
Media:
Feb. 14, 2017 - Kirkpatrick brings international experience to Hilltoppers
2017 (Junior): Kirkpatrick was 1-of-2 Hilltoppers to start every weekend of the season, toeing the rubber 14 times ... Allowed 3 earned runs or fewer in half of his starts, including a career-low 1 earned run with a career-high 7 strikeouts March 12 vs. Illinois State in 5.1 innings of work ... Did not walk a batter in his first 3 starts and boasted a 21-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 7 outings ... Pitched a complete game April 8 at UTSA in his first Division I start in his home state of Texas; retired 15-of-16 batters to cap the game with 5 scoreless frames in the 4-3 win against the Roadrunners, allowed only 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2, it was the first complete game by a Hilltopper since Justin Hageman on March 21, 2014, in a 4-1 win vs. Texas State ... Also boasted the second-longest start of the season by a WKU pitcher, pitching 8.1 innings of 3-run ball vs. Ohio on March 4 ... Hit 4 batters vs. Valparaiso (Feb. 19) and at Middle Tennessee (March 25), a game-high mark for the Hilltoppers since 2005.
At McLennan CC: Made 12 appearances (including 8 starts) and went 4-3 with 2 saves for the Highlanders ... Allowed 2 runs or fewer in 8-of-12 appearances, striking out 33 in 44.1 innings pitched.
At Wake Forest: Signed with the Demon Deacons out of Westlake High School ... Made 20 appearances (including 6 starts) and went 3-2 as a freshman, striking out 39 in 47.2 innings ... Had a pair of 4-inning, 1-run efforts against top-25 Miami (Fla.) and top-25 Coastal Carolina ... Went a career-high 6 innings at Charlotte, allowing 1 run with 3 strikeouts.
Personal Info: Born May 9, 1996 in London, England ... Son of Alastair and Gayle Kirkpatrick ... His mother played tennis at Wake Forest and Wittenberg University, while his sister (Olivia) was a rower at San Diego State ... Studying Economics at WKU ... Chose WKU because of the coaching staff and the opportunity to improve and play right away ... Made 2 appearances for Great Britain in the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Brooklyn, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings while picking up a victory over Pakistan on September 23.
