Nick Mingione shares unique challenge that Kentucky issued players before facing Hagen Smith

After falling to LSU in a stunning 11-0 upset on Wednesday, Kentucky’s back was against the wall. The Wildcats weren’t the only ones who suffered a surprise loss. No. 2 seed Arkansas also lost its opening-round game in the SEC Tournament.

Consequently, the two teams were forced to face each other on Wednesday. When Kentucky and Arkansas squared off in the regular season, the ‘Cats won the series 2-1. However, Kentucky’s sole loss was a 10-3 blowout.

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What was the difference for the Razorbacks? Hagen Smith. The standout junior manned the mound for six innings, only allowing one run. On Wednesday, Kentucky’s batters found themselves staring down Smith again. Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione did not allow history to repeat itself.

“We just challenged them this morning,” Mingione said after the game. “Every time we challenge ’em, they respond. What we did was we actually had all the guys that faced him last time stand up in front of the team, and we basically told them that this guy has sat out there, Hagen Smith, for 14 straight weeks and basically has dominated everybody he’s played.

“We told ’em that life and the game of baseball is about making adjustments. And we challenged them. And those guys that faced him, they had to use their man voice and tell our team what they were going to do different today than they did last time.”

Kentucky escaped the heated contest with a 9-6 triumph. Smith only pitched two innings in the loss, giving up two hits, two runs and a walk. In total, Arkansas played five pitchers. Mingione not only challenged his players but utilized an unusual strategy to prepare them.

“We actually paired a pitcher up with them, and that was their battle buddy, and we made them tell ’em what exactly we were going to do. And we got ’em face-to-face at 7 o’clock this morning. We had some stare-downs going on. It was awesome.

“They responded. They were digging it. And I’m like, man, it’s just a special team. I mean, for us to challenge ’em at 7 o’clock this morning, they were wide awake, and I thought they responded to it.”

Nick Mingione and Co. will face off against the loser between No. 11 LSU and No. 10 South Carolina on Friday at 3 p.m. CT. Kentucky has never won the SEC Baseball Tournament.