PREVIEW: Kentucky Hosts Murray State in Final Pre-SEC Tune Up

Kentucky will welcome the Murray State Racers to Lexington on Tuesday for a midweek matchup at Kentucky Proud Park.

The Bat Cats’ clash with the Racers will be their final tune-up before SEC play begins. Kentucky and Georgia open conference play Friday.

Murray State

The Racers enter Tuesday’s matchup red-hot, boasting an 11-5 record. Three of their five losses came on the road at No. 1 Arkansas. They played the nation’s number one team close in their second matchup, falling 5-3.

Junior third baseman Carson Garner was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week last week. Garner hit three home runs, bringing his season total to nine. His nine long balls are tied for the fourth most in the country with seven other players.

Garner also leads the conference in slugging percentage (0.907) and OPS (1.435). He looks well on his way to possible MVC Player of the Year honors.

Murray opened the season with a dominant three-game sweep of Purdue Fort Wayne, outscoring the Mastadons 33-5 on the weekend. Purdue Fort Wayne just split their weekend series at Missouri last weekend. The Racers are a very sneaky team.

Junior right-handed pitcher Kane Elmy is Murray’s probable starter. His last start came against Arkansas State last Tuesday, where he allowed just four hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings on the mound.

Kentucky

It has been a less than stellar week for the Bat Cats, as their RPI ranking has fallen from 10 to 56 since their 5-2 win over Eastern Kentucky last Wednesday.

Kennesaw State came into town and totally blitzed Kentucky, outscoring them 23-3 through the first two games of their weekend series. The Cats however salvaged the series, holding off the Owls 5-2 in the series finale. This was not what Nick Mingione could have possibly expected just days before conference play begins.

Grad transfer Nick Lopez continued his great play this season last weekend, doubling in all three games. His nine doubles are tied for eighth most in the nation.

Senior shortstop Grant Smith remains out on Tuesday, but is expected back for Friday’s series opener against Georgia. He continues to work through a right hamstring injury.

Nick Mingione revealed Sunday that senior right-handed pitcher Ryan Hagenow is injured as well. There is no timetable for his return at this time. Hagenow has made two appearances this season, allowing just two hits and zero earned runs in five innings of action.

Redshirt freshman right-handed pitcher Drew Lafferty will be making his fourth start of the season on Tuesday. Lafferty has been flawless through his first three career starts, allowing just two hits and no earned runs with seven strikeouts through 10 innings.

“[Confidence] is through the roof,” Lafferty said after his last start against Eastern Kentucky. “Not too confident, but through the roof. Confidence is a key part of pitching and baseball in general. Without confidence, you’re not going to be that great.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Kentucky leads 22-7

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 (Kentucky Proud Park – 6:30 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: RHP Drew Lafferty (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 10.0 IP) vs MSU: RHP Kane Elmy (0-0, 3.12 ERA, 8.2 IP)