Nick Mingione praises Ryan Waldschmidt, Kentucky offense in SEC Tournament win over Arkansas

Kentucky baseball bounced back in Hoover with a massive victory in their second game, beating No. 2 seed Arkansas 9-6 one day after losing to No. 11 seed LSU 11-0.

The win marked Kentucky’s third in four games this season against a fellow top-five team in the country in Arkansas, who the Wildcats beat 2-1 in their series in Lexington. This time out, the Wildcat offense was unstoppable, busting up two of the better Razorback arms en route to victory.

“I thought our offense was on full display today,” said Nick Mingione after the game when speaking to the SEC Network crew. He then broke down the sequence to start the game where the ‘Cats scored a pair of runs on Arkansas ace Hagen Smith.

“In the first inning, (Ryan Waldschmidt) draws his walk and then (Emilien) Pitre puts the ball in play with two strikes. Then we lay down a bunt and we score a run.”

It was a vintage offensive performance from a Nick Mingione team, scrapping for runs by whatever means necessary while also knocking a few over the outfield wall.

“We had stolen bases, we hit bombs. I was telling our guys, like, the best guys and hit bombs and lay down bunts. It is a full display. And then, I thought we defended the field really well.”

After those comments, the SEC Network replayed a small clip from an earlier conversation with Ryan Waldschmidt, who hit two home runs against the Razorbacks and had some touching words to share about his head coach after the game.

“There’s nobody in the country that cares more about you. He wants the best for you, he wants the best for the team, and I mean, I think he’s the best coach I’ve ever had in my life,” said the senior.

Mingione was clearly affected by such a sentiment from one of his star players and explained how he views his mission as the Kentucky head coach.

“It means a lot,” he said. “You know, we want to love on them, hold them accountable. We want to challenge them, push them to do things they’ve never ever thought they could do, and when you have an opportunity to make an impact on their lives, it’s a position that we don’t hold lightly.”

Mingione continued:

“And, you know, people entrust with their children. But my wife and I, the rest of the coaches, we do everything we can to pour into them to the best of our ability. To hear them say that, it means a lot.”

An emotional victory for the Wildcats keeps them alive in the SEC Tournament and now sets up another game on Friday for the Bat ‘Cats.