Nick Mingione praises Kentucky fans for great home crowds in series vs. Tennessee

Kentucky baseball is rolling in SEC play at 15-2, having dropped the second game of their series vs. Tennessee after winning the first on Friday night.

At the break between innings during Sunday’s rubber match with the Vols leading 2-1, the SEC Network broadcasting crew caught up with Wildcat head coach Nick Mingione to have him break down the blockbuster matchup in Lexington this weekend between No. 3 ranked Kentucky and No. 4 Tennessee.

First, he addressed Devin Burkes, the UK catcher who left the midweek game vs. Louisville with a hamstring injury but returned in somewhat hobbled capacity this weekend. He certainly doesn’t seem handicapped in any way and knocked in the ‘Cats’ first run with a solo homer.

“I told him, that ‘s one way not to have to run fast, just hit it over the fence. That’s one way to save yourself from sprints, there’s no doubt about it,” said Mingione. He then discussed starting pitcher Mason Moore, who gave up a two-out two-run home run earlier in the game.

“He’s getting his ground balls. I thought — his first two innings were 1-2-3, then obviously, he had a two-out walk, and you know, those usually come back to get you, and then he didn’t execute a pitch. But answered right back, got a quick out on the first pitch right after that. When he’s going, when he’s at his best, our infielders are catching the ball a lot.”

For the Wildcats and Volunteers, it’s been a competitive series. In Saturday’s matchup, Tennessee did run away with it, but they did a lot of their damage in the very first inning.

“Yeah, obviously, didn’t get off to a the start we wanted, but boy, did we finish strong,” Mingione said of Game 2. “Played 27 outs and just gave up four runs after that, and after giving up three the other night. So, long way to go, great series, two teams duking it out.”

Lastly, Nick Mingione wanted to shoutout the crowd at Kentucky Proud Park, which saw an attendance record set during the Friday evening game.

“Great crowd. I mean, how about this? This is, again, three days in a row the Big Blue Nation has shown up, and we’re hearing their presence.”

A team of such caliber is brining out the baseball fans in Lexington. Kentucky made the NCAA Tournament after a bit of a drought last season and even hosted and won their own regional. Now, a similar destiny could await this summer.