Kennesaw State Defeats No. 25 Kentucky

Murphy’s Law hit No. 25 Kentucky square in the face the face on Saturday, as it fell 10-2 to Kennesaw State at Kentucky Proud Park. It is UK’s first series loss to a non-Power Five opponent since Ball State won two of three in Lexington in 2021.

The Owls (9-6) jumped all over the Wildcats (12-3) for the second straight day, scoring four runs in the first inning despite starter Dominic Niman throwing his first 12 pitches of the game for a strike. Kennesaw added another run in the second and four more in the fifth inning as UK’s pitchers struggled to put hitters away with two strikes. Catcher Aaron Posey, who entered the game 2-for-14 on the season, was 3-for-3 with five RBI by the fifth inning.

Meanwhile, Kentucky sprayed hard-hit baseballs all over the ballpark but could not find holes in the defense save for Mitchell Daly’s RBI double just inside the left field line in the second inning and an RBI double in the eighth by Nick Lopez, who twice earlier had been a victim of strong defensive plays.

NOTES

• Kentucky now is 12-3 in 2024.
  • Kentucky is 10-3 in day games.
  • Kentucky is 6-2 at home.
• Kentucky is 36-7 vs. non-conference foes (including the Lexington Regional) since the beginning of the 2023 season.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his eighth season at the helm and now owns a 228-153 career record.
  • Mingione needs 30 victories to become the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 90-36 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 145-43 in non-conference games overall.
  • Mingione is 126-18 vs. non-Power Five opponents.
• R-Freshman RHP Carson Applegate made his collegiate debut.
  • He threw a scoreless inning, yielding one walk.
• Graduate IF Nick Lopez went 2-for-4 with an RBI double.
  • It was his second straight two-hit game.
  • He now has multiple hits in six of UK’s 15 games.
  • He leads UK with seven doubles this season.
• Junior IF Patrick Herrera went 1-for-2.
  • He has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games.

ON DECK

No. 25 Kentucky will host Kennesaw State on Sunday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the UK Sports Network, with streaming available on SECN+.