Kentucky Baseball Shut Out in Season Opening Loss to Elon

This was not the start to the season that head coach Nick Mingione imagined.

In the 2023 season opener, Kentucky traveled to Elon and was shut out 2-0 by the Phoenix.

Let’s start with the positives: Darren Williams is still very, very good.

After requiring Tommy John Surgery last season, the seventh-year grad student made his return to the mound in grand fashion. Williams relieved starter Logan Martin after five innings pitched, where Martin gave up six hits and two earned runs. Williams shut down the Phoenix offense, pitching three innings and striking out seven of the 11 batters he faced. That’s about where the positives end.

Kentucky accrued only four hits and left four runners on base. All four of Kentucky’s hits came in the first at-bat of an inning, meaning the ‘Cats squandered four opportunities to score with a runner on first with zero outs. Not great. Kentucky got a hit in just four of their 27 at-bats, good for a .148 team average. That isn’t going to win a ballgame.

After Coach Mingione stated that “[they’re] going to be super aggressive and force [their] opponents to make plays” last week at Media Day, the ‘Cats were picked off at first base on two separate occasions.

Five of Kentucky’s nine starting positions players were held hitless, including heralded transfers Ryan Waldschmidt, Kendal Ewell, and Isaiah Byars. This was not a great introduction to Big Blue Nation. The ‘Cats were rather lucky that Elon left seven runners on base, or else this one could have been a blowout.

Elon closer Ben Simon entered the game in the top of the ninth and struck out James McCoy, Devin Burkes, and Émilien Pitre to end the game.

Following the season opener, news that Kentucky will test alcohol sales at baseball and softball games this season will overshadow what should have been an exciting start to a season. The ‘Cats will look to even the series up against Elon tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. EST.