PREVIEW: Kentucky looks to stop skid in midweek matchup with Xavier

Fresh off of losing four of its last five games, the wavering Kentucky Wildcats will host Xavier at Kentucky Proud Park Tuesday night.

It’s been a rough stretch for the ‘Cats, as they have begun SEC play 2-4 and dropped a midweek game at home to Murray State last Tuesday. A matchup against 11-13 Xavier couldn’t have come at a better time for Nick Mingione’s team.

First pitch for Tuesday’s game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST. Following the matchup with Xavier, Kentucky travels to College Station for a pivotal series with struggling Texas A&M.

Xavier Musketeers (11-13, 0-0)

It’s been a rough non-conference slate for the Musketeers, as coach Billy O’Conner’s team is just 11-13 through its first 24 games. In eight seasons at the helm, Xavier is 193-184 under O’Conner. They last made the NCAA Tournament in 2023, where they won two games before being eliminated from the Nashville Regional.

Kentucky will be the fourth SEC team that Xavier faces this season. The Musketeers were run-ruled 13-1 by No. 1 Tennessee on March 5, swept by No. 14 Vanderbilt the weekend after, and were rolled 18-4 by No. 8 LSU on March 11. The ‘Cats will look to keep the SEC a perfect 6-0 against the Musketeers on Tuesday.

Sophomore third baseman Jake Lambdin leads Xavier with a .318 batting average, which ranks sixth among Big East hitters. sophomore outfielder Clay Burdette made the Big East Weekly Honor Roll after leading the Musketeers with a .455 average at the plate in the 3-0 sweep of Ball State last weekend.

As a team however, the Musketeers are hitting for a pitiful .233 average, with just four batters (with at least 70 at-bats) hitting for at least a .250 average.

Freshman right-hander Jack DeTienne will likely get the start on the mound against Kentucky, as he started Xavier’s midweek games against Tennessee and LSU. In those two starts, he allowed nine hits and seven earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings of work.

Kentucky Wildcats (15-7, 2-4)

Kentucky is 2-4 to open conference play, which is their worst start in the SEC since 2022 (also started 2-4). That season, Kentucky finished with a 12-18 record and missed the NCAA Tournament.

It is said that 15 conference wins makes you a shoo-in for the NCAA Tournament, so Kentucky would need to finish just 11-13 over its final 24 SEC games to hit that mark. This midweek matchup with Xavier gives the ‘Cats a chance to refine things before their uber important series with Texas A&M this weekend.

Entering Tuesday’s game, senior left fielder Cole Hage remains in the team lead for batting average (.377), home runs (six), and slugging percentage (.675). Kentucky’s team batting average is up to .288, with four players (with at least 60 at-bats) boasting at least a .300 average (Hage, Patrick Herrera, Devin Burkes, Tyler Bell).

Freshman Nate Harris will make his fifth start of the season against the Musketeers on Tuesday. In four starts, Harris boasts a 3.63 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings. Murray State dinged him for six hits and four earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings last week.

Kentucky and Xavier last met on April 18, 2023, where the ‘Cats came away with a 13-2 win at Kentucky Proud Park. Last season’s scheduled matchup with canceled and not rescheduled.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Kentucky leads 35-9

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 (Kentucky Proud Park – 6:30 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: RHP Nate Harris (3-0, 3.63 ERA, 17.1 IP) vs XAV: RHP Jack DeTienne (1-1, 23.14 ERA, 7.0 IP)

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