Cole Hage off to hot start in first two games as a Wildcat

Expectations were high in Lexington for Columbia transfer Cole Hage, who was named a Second Team Preseason NCBWA All-American at the designated hitter position.

Surprisingly, Hage started both games in left field on Friday and had a dominant day at the plate. In eight total at-bats, the Fargo, ND native went 5-8 with four singles, a three-run home run, and three RBI. Four of his five hits came in Kentucky’s season opening 11-0 win.

In Kentucky’s disappointing 3-1 loss in game two of the doubleheader, Hage was just one of two Kentucky players to record a hit (Dylan Koontz). He scored the Wildcats’ lone run of the game with two outs in the ninth inning.

In 130 career games at Columbia, Hage notched four hits in one game just five times. Now, he’s already notched four hits in one of his two games as a Wildcat.

Cole Hage (@Colehage_33) has big boy strength. pic.twitter.com/zNHMW1SNmL

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) February 15, 2025

Hage was named the 85th best outfielder in College Baseball by D1Baseball and showed that he should maybe be ranked even higher. Along with his big day at the plate, he made a sliding catch in the third inning of game one to rob Lipscomb’s Aaron Stelogeannis of a base hit.

In 62 total at-bats on Friday (both games), Kentucky recorded just 16 hits (.258). Hage recorded five of Kentucky’s 16 hits (31%), and the duo of Hage and Dylan Koontz combined for eight of Kentucky’s 16 hits, exactly half. These two players are off to good starts in Kentucky blue, but will need the rest of the team’s bats to wake up if they want to avoid a season opening series loss to Lipscomb on Sunday.