PREVIEW: Cats Welcome Kennesaw State to Lexington this Weekend
Kentucky welcomes Kennesaw State to town on Friday for a weekend series with a chance to make some history.
The Bat Cats run-ruled Eastern Kentucky 10-0 on Tuesday and avoided a scare with a 5-2 win on Wednesday, improving to 12-1 on the season. With a win over the Owls in its series opener on Friday, Kentucky would secure its best start to a season under head coach Nick Mingione at 13-1.
Kentucky is nearing the end of its non-conference schedule, as it begins SEC play against Georgia on March 15 following the Kennesaw series and a midweek matchup with Murray State.
The Owls are currently ranked higher in the RPI Rankings (23) than Kentucky (26), so a weekend sweep would be a huge addition to the resume.
Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State and Kentucky will meet for the first time ever this weekend.
The Owls are 7-6 on the year, including a dominant 18-1 victory over No. 10 Clemson back on Feb. 23. This marked Clemson’s worst home loss since 1936.
The senior duo of first baseman Brayden Eidson (.432 BA, four doubles, 11 RBI) and catcher Nick Hassan (.419 BA, four doubles, 12 RBI) have gotten off to an incredible start for the Owls and are well on their way to All-ASUN selections.
Kennesaw has won three of its last four games dating back to the Clemson series, including a series victory over Longwood. They dominated Belmont 15-2 in Nashville on Wednesday.
Junior RHP Smith Pinson sports an 0-3 record, but has been Kennesaw’s best pitcher in 2024. In three starts, Pinson boasts a 2.81 ERA with 15 strikeouts. Opposing batters are hitting just .238 against the right-hander.
KSU was picked to finish fifth in the preseason coaches poll with 99 points and one first-place vote.
Kentucky
Junior second baseman Emilien Pitre (.365 BA, 13 RBI) and grad transfer first baseman Nick Lopez (.342 BA, five doubles, nine RBI) continue to produce for the Cats at the top of the lineup. After starting the season at third base, Lopez has seamlessly made the transition to the opposite corner.
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“I’ve been comfortable there,” Lopez said on Tuesday. “I’ve played there before. It’s been easy to settle in over there and feel good in the box as well.”
Junior Patrick Herrera has broken out for Kentucky in 2024, posting a .310 BA through his first 29 at-bats. The Northwestern transfer has carved out a role for himself at the top of the lineup. He was exclusively a pinch-runner in 2023.
Herrera is 7-15 at the plate (.466) with three doubles and two RBI over the span of Kentucky’s last five games.
The Cats seemingly are getting healthier, as left fielder Nolan McCarthy is back in the lineup following an injury that occurred on March 1 against Lipscomb. Grad transfer Ty Crittenberger, who was dealing with a shoulder issue, pinch-hit in the March 3 series finale against the Bisons. He seems to be getting healthy as well.
Junior Ryan Waldschmidt has been used exclusively as a designated hitter this season following an ACL tear last summer, but he is reportedly nearing a return to left field this weekend.
Junior right-hander Travis Smith looks to get back on track on Friday, as he hasn’t quite had the expected start to his season. In three starts, he boasts a 6.39 ERA with as many walks (10) as strikeouts (10). Control has been an issue so far.
ALL-TIME SERIES: No prior meetings
Game 1: Friday, March 8, 2024 (Kentucky Proud Park – 4:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: RHP Travis Smith (1-1, 6.39 ERA, 12.2 IP) vs KSU: RHP Braden Osbolt (1-0, 4.60 ERA, 15.2 IP)
Game 2: Saturday, March 9, 2024 (Kentucky Proud Park – 1:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: LHP Dominic Niman (3-0, 2.81 ERA, 16.0 IP) vs RHP Blake Aita (0-0, 5.11 ERA, 12.1 IP)
Game 3: Sunday, March 10, 2024 (Kentucky Proud Park – 1:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: RHP Mason Moore (2-0, 3.07 ERA, 14.2 IP) vs KSU: RHP Smith Pinson (0-3, 2.81 ERA, 16.0 IP)
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