Huge Week for UK Baseball Concludes with UCSB Series

The Kentucky baseball program has already had a big week. The Wildcats beat intrastate opponents Eastern Kentucky (12-0) and Western Kentucky (17-2) on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Then on Thursday, the UK Athletic Department broke ground on the program’s new baseball stadium, which is slated to open in the fall of 2018.

But the big week does not end there. On the field, the 2017 Wildcats host a big, three-game series against No. 23 UC Santa Barbara beginning on Friday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

The Wildcats are 4-5 after their wins this week, including three losses at No. 13 North Carolina to start the season. But head coach Nick Mingione has seen his Wildcats win four of their last five games heading into this weekend’s series.

UCSB comes into the weekend with a 4-4 record. The Gauchos lost to St. Mary’s 4-1 on Tuesday, but Mingione knows that this weekend’s opponent will pose a serious threat.

“We’re going to be challenged, there’s no question,” Mingione said on Thursday. “This is a team that’s been ranked in the Top 25, has had huge draft picks and I know their coaching staff are some of the best in college baseball.”

Mingione knows that his team is facing a tough weekend ahead, but he also believes his Wildcats are ready.

“It’s going to be a special test for us,” Mingione said. “We just finished up with a great practice. The guys are ready, they’re focused and we look forward to competing.”

The series begins with a 4 p.m. start on Friday, followed by a 1 p.m. game on Saturday. Sunday’s series finale is at noon.

Kentucky has won with its bats lately. The Wildcats have scored at least 12 runs in their four wins this season. In fact, Kentucky has scored 67 runs in its last five games. The Wildcats have four regulars hitting over .400 on the season, led by preseason All-American Evan White. But White has missed five games due to injury. Mingione thinks his starting first baseman is now healthy.

“He is back, healthy, played first base yesterday,” Mingione said of White. “(He) felt great today. You talk about your All-American, basically your best player not to be there, to miss five games, it’s been difficult.”

White is hitting a ridiculous .714 on the season thus far. He is 10-14 at the plate, with three doubles and a pair of home runs.

But White isn’t the only source of offense for the Wildcats. Marcus Carson is hitting .457, Zach Reks is at .421 and Kole Cottam is batting .419.

The Wildcats’ offense will get a serious test this weekend from UCSB pitching. The Gauchos’ starting rotation has been stingy so far this season. Friday starter Noah Davis is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. Saturday starter Kyle Nelson is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA. And Sunday’s starter, Steven Ledesma, is 0-0 with a sparkling 1.04 ERA.

Kentucky will counter with Sean Hjelle (0-1, 11.57 ERA) on Friday, Zach Logue (1-1, 3.48 ERA) on Saturday and Justin Lewis (0-1, 5.00 ERA) on Sunday. Mingione knows that all three of his weekend starters are still adjusting to their new roles.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys pitching in roles that they’ve never pitched in before,” Mingione said. “Sean Hjelle was not a starter last year, Zach Logue did not start on the weekends, and Justin Lewis pitched on the back end of our bullpen (last season). We’re continuing to get them adjusted and it takes time. It doesn’t just happen, it’s not magic.”

After this weekend, Kentucky will have played six of its 12 games against ranked opponents. Mingione thinks that was pertinent for this particular group of Wildcats.

“This year especially, it was important,” Mingione said. “I believe in order to find out about somebody, you have to test them. I believe that’s how you find out about people, you put them in tough situations, you force them to compete, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Mingione and the Wildcats hope to close this big week in the program’s history with a solid effort on the field. Winning the series against a ranked opponent would be a nice finish to what has already been a special week.