PREVIEW: Kentucky and Xavier to meet in midweek clash
No. 4 Kentucky will play its first midweek game in nearly two weeks when it travels to Cincinnati for a non-conference clash with Xavier on Tuesday.
The Cats and Musketeers played at Kentucky Proud Park last season, where Kentucky came away with the dominant 13-2 victory.
Kentucky is 35-9 all-time against Xavier.
First pitch is at 3:00 p.m. and the game will be streamed on Flo Sports.
Xavier
Xavier entered the 2024 season with high expectations as the Musketeers won the Big East Tournament and knocked Vanderbilt out of the Nashville Regional in 2023.
This season however has been a major letdown for the Muskies.
With just nine games remaining in the regular season, Xavier is just 25-22 (9-6). They’ll have to win back-to-back Big East Tournaments if they want to go dancing once again.
They’ve faced two SEC teams this season in Tennessee and LSU. The Muskies were drilled 10-2 by the Volunteers and lost their series at LSU, but did take a game.
They’re led offensively by reigning Big East Player of the Week junior third baseman Luke Hammond (.284 BA, 10 HR, 32 RBI), outfielder Hayden Christiansen (not to be confused with Hayden Christensen), and second baseman Jared Cushing (.290 BA, 11 2B, 37 RBI). Hammond totaled six RBI in Xavier’s weekend sweep of Butler to earn Player of the Week honors.
Xavier senior right-hander Connor Bailey started in their last midweek game against Northern Kentucky. Bailey pitched three innings, allowing two hits and two earned runs.
Kentucky
Kentucky is 8-1 in mid-week non-conference games this season. Its one loss came to Samford back on April 9, just days before the Cats swept Auburn on the road.
As we head into the final stretch of the season, Kentucky is chasing just its second SEC regular season crown in program history. Nick Mingione will likely use his final two mid-week games to get some guys some playing time, as these mid-week games aren’t looked at as very important by the powers that be.
Redshirt freshman right-hander Drew Lafferty has started eight of nine mid-week games for the Cats this season, but has struggled lately. He’s allowed 12 hits and 10 earned runs in his last 3 1/3 innings pitched (Samford & Louisville).
Don’t be surprised if freshman Ben Cleaver makes his first career start on Tuesday. Cleaver was tabbed as the midweek guy at the beginning of the season, but he wasn’t quite ready on opening day. He’s pitched just two total innings out of the bullpen this season. He’s allowed just one hit while striking out three batters.
Following the quick trip up to Xavier, the Cats will head to Gainesville for its second-to-last SEC series of the season against Jac Caglianone and Florida.
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