Cats Use Big Third Inning to Top Oklahoma Ace
Kentucky baseball head coach Nick Mingione and his staff knew the challenge that was ahead of them on Friday night. The Cats were facing Oklahoma ace pitcher Kyson Witherspoon, who is projected to be a Top 10 pick in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft.
The UK staff spent much of the week preparing for Witherspoon, who entered Friday’s game with a 9-2 record and an ERA of just over 2.00.
UK’s preparation for Witherspoon paid off in Friday’s game. The Cats scored four earned runs, the most Witherspoon has given up all season, in a 4-3 win at Kentucky Proud Park.
“Coach (Chase) Slone and Coach (Austin Cousino) prepared these guys all week to face a quality arm like that,” Mingione said. ““I give our guys a lot of credit. They just fought and competed so hard.”
Mingione sang the praises of Witherspoon after the game.
“That pitcher they threw, he’s going to be a Top 10 pick in the draft,” Mingione said. “He averages 4.5 hits per outing. He’s a special arm.”
Kentucky scored all four of its runs in the third inning. Shortstop Tyler Bell led off the inning with an apparent home run. However, after video review, the umpires ruled that the ball did not leave the yard and Bell ended up with a triple. Second baseman Luke Lawrence then laced a double down the left field line, scoring Bell. Left fielder Cole Hage followed Lawrence by hitting a home run to right center field, giving the Cats a 3-2 lead. Carson Hansen then singled to left field and was eventually brought home on a single by James McCoy. In four batters, the Cats hit for the cycle in an inning, something that Mingione said was rare.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that,” Mingione said. “Against a premier arm. That guy is special. It was going to take something like that to beat an arm like that. Give our guys a lot of credit. Their competitive spirit was unbelievable. We had guys on base all night.”
Kentucky got to Witherspoon for six hits, two walks, a hit batter and the four earned runs in the win, which was key as UK continues to work toward the postseason. Mingione knew that he would need something special from his team on Friday night, and the UK skipper got just that as the Cats topped Witherspoon and the Sooners for UK’s 11th Southeastern Conference win of the season.
