KSRCollege.com's Louisville/Kentucky Baseball Preview
From David Mulloy...
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The top ranked Wildcats will make the short trip down I-64 for a 6pm rematch with the Cardinals (28-12, 10-5 Big East) where they will attempt to avenge their worst loss of the season. Two weeks ago to the day, the Cardinals stormed into Lexington and posted 12 runs on 19 hits. Cardinal starter Jared Ruxer threw six shutout innings and allowed just three hits as the Cards blanked the Cats 12-0.
Fresh off a series win against LSU, the Cats will send freshman Sam Mahar (3-1) to the mound for his second career start. Mahar made the most of his first start last week against Cincinnati as he worked six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits in a 7-0 victory. In 14 appearances this season Mahar (1.71 ERA) has thrown 27(1/3) innings, allowed just five earned runs, and has struck out 27. Mahar threw three inning against Louisville earlier this month and gave up one run on three hits. Chad Green (2-0, 1.99 ERA) will take the mound for Louisville.
Meaning of the Game
In the grand scheme of things the game does not mean a whole lot. To the Wildcats, all games are important, but the 12 games left in the SEC season mean just a little bit more as the Cats chase a conference crown and try to host a regional and super regional round.
I asked reigning SEC player of the week and homerun leader Luke Maile his thoughts on the game and if revenge was on the team's mind.
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The top ranked Wildcats will make the short trip down I-64 for a 6pm rematch with the Cardinals (28-12, 10-5 Big East) where they will attempt to avenge their worst loss of the season. Two weeks ago to the day, the Cardinals stormed into Lexington and posted 12 runs on 19 hits. Cardinal starter Jared Ruxer threw six shutout innings and allowed just three hits as the Cards blanked the Cats 12-0.
Fresh off a series win against LSU, the Cats will send freshman Sam Mahar (3-1) to the mound for his second career start. Mahar made the most of his first start last week against Cincinnati as he worked six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits in a 7-0 victory. In 14 appearances this season Mahar (1.71 ERA) has thrown 27(1/3) innings, allowed just five earned runs, and has struck out 27. Mahar threw three inning against Louisville earlier this month and gave up one run on three hits. Chad Green (2-0, 1.99 ERA) will take the mound for Louisville.
Meaning of the Game
In the grand scheme of things the game does not mean a whole lot. To the Wildcats, all games are important, but the 12 games left in the SEC season mean just a little bit more as the Cats chase a conference crown and try to host a regional and super regional round.
I asked reigning SEC player of the week and homerun leader Luke Maile his thoughts on the game and if revenge was on the team's mind.
No, not at all. We’re just trying to go win another ballgame. It’s always fun to go there and play and we’ll try to get a W.Freshman leadoff hitter Austin Cousino was a little more forthcoming when asked if the Louisville game was a "big one"
Oh definitely. Anytime you play a team in state it is, you want to occupy your state.” “Louisville came in here ready last time and we kind of got away from our gameCoach Henderson sums up what the game means to the Cats and what they need to do tonight.
It will be game number 42. We just need to show up, we need to do a much better job on the mound, and we need to have much better at bats than we did last time and I think we will.The game can be heard on 630 WLAP in Lexington and 1080 WKJK in Louisville. It will not be televised but I will be in attendance and tweeting a semi play by play. Follow me on twitter @mulloyksr See you all tonight.
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