Takeaways from Kentucky Baseball's series loss to Auburn

Kentucky dropped to 0-2 in its first two SEC series of the season over the weekend as it dropped two of three games at Kentucky Proud Park to No. 20 Auburn.

The ‘Cats are now 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.

Although they dropped their first two games 8-7, they bounced back and secured their fourth shutout victory of the season on Sunday (6-0).

Ahead of Kentucky’s road series at Texas A&M, here are some takeaways from the Auburn series.

Blunders lead to back-to-back losses

The margin of victory in the Southeastern Conference, the nation’s premier baseball conference, is so extremely thin. This was on display this weekend at Kentucky Proud Park, as late game blunders from the ‘Cats cost them the first two games of the weekend series.

In the series opener on Friday, right-handed reliever Simon Gregersen forced two big outs in the top of the ninth with Kentucky and Auburn tied at seven. Preseason First Team All-SEC catcher Ike Irish came to the plate for the Tigers, and hit a routine pop-up in the infield that should have ended the inning.

However, freshman shortstop Tyler Bell dropped the ball, allowing the game-winning run to score from third.

OH NO!!! What are we doing Kentucky‼️ pic.twitter.com/kZ0aPOpHlx

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 22, 2025

If you thought that was a brutal way to end the game, Saturday’s result may have topped it. Trailing 7-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Kentucky scored four runs to send the game to extra innings. Auburn scored one run in the top of the 11th frame, putting the ball back in the Wildcats’ court to respond.

Kyuss Gargett opened the inning by reaching on catcher’s interference and eventually reached third after back-to-back groundouts from James McCoy and Tyler Bell. This brought up Devin Burkes, Kentucky’s Preseason First Team All-SEC catcher who was 1-4 at the plate on the day. Instead of seeing if Burkes could have brought home the game-tying run, Gargett attempted to steal home and was thrown out to end the game.

These blunders and missed opportunities continue to cost Kentucky close games. James McCoy was caught in a pickle as the game-tying run in the ninth inning of the Wildcats’ loss to Murray State, and Kentucky stranded 31 runners on base in its three game series against Georgia. It seems as if things aren’t as rock solid as they’ve been over the past two seasons so far, but Nick Mingione certainly has time to reel things in.

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.

Ben Cleaver is breaking out as a sophomore

Kentucky sophomore left-hander Ben Cleaver pitched yet another gem on Sunday, as he held Auburn to just one hit and no runs with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings of work. He swapped days with left-hander Ethan Walker, who is usually the Sunday starter but pitched Saturday due to pitch count issues.

Through six starts this season, Cleaver now boasts a 2.37 ERA in 30 1/3 innings with a team-leading 35 strikeouts and 11 walks. Opposing batters are hitting for just a .162 average against the left-hander. Cleaver’s 2.37 ERA ranks 11th among SEC arms and is second among sophomores (LSU’s Kade Anderson).

“I just wanted to go out there and send a message,” Cleaver told Kentucky Kernel’s Jonathon Bruner on Sunday. “I wanted them to show them that they aren’t getting anything today.”

Kentucky’s pitching staff has struggled lately, as teams are scoring nine runs per game over its last eight games, but Cleaver has really emerged as a bright spot. The ‘Cats only two SEC wins were in games that Cleaver started. He is breaking out as a sophomore and will be a name to be reckoned with for the remainder of the season and next season.

Ben Cleaver just got added to my top pitchers names list pic.twitter.com/ewm1WUWgkS

— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) March 23, 2025

The Texas A&M series is a near must win

Nothing is ever truly “must win” in the juggernaut conference that is the SEC. But after compiling a 2-4 record through its first six games, a series victory over an 11-12 (0-6) Texas A&M team this upcoming weekend is really a near must win.

The Aggies opened the season as the consensus No. 1 team in America, but have absolutely fallen apart before the end of March. After limping through non-conference play, both No. 12 Alabama and No. 14 Vanderbilt swept Texas A&M in its first two SEC series of the season.

Facing an offense which is hitting for a .256 batting average (dead last in the SEC), a series victory over the ‘Ags would be very important in building that 15 SEC win resume. A&M’s pitching is however solid, as its 3.06 ERA ranks second in the SEC.

College Baseball truly is such an interesting sport, as Texas A&M, Florida, and Kentucky (who were all Men’s College World Series teams in 2024) are a combined 2-16 to start SEC play in 2025. The “Cats have both wins.

First pitch for Friday’s game at Texas A&M is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.