PREVIEW: Kentucky and Tennessee clash in top-five series
No. 3 Kentucky hosts No. 4 Tennessee at Kentucky Proud Park this weekend in one of the most anticipated series in program history.
The Cats, who are 14-1 in SEC play, currently sit four games ahead of Tennessee (10-5) in the SEC East. This weekend could go a long way in determining the SEC East crown and the SEC crown, which Kentucky has won just once before.
Tennessee
Tennessee enters the weekend winners of seven of its last eight conference games, including a sweep of LSU. They are 31-6 overall and 10-5 in SEC play.
“Their offense is really good,” Nick Mingione said in a press conference Thursday morning. “When you look statistically, you look at their numbers whether its batting average, whether its doubles, whether its home runs, they can do a lot of good things. They have a lot of good power and then their pitchers do a great job of attacking the strike zone. They are just ramming that ball in there with multiple pitches. Its exactly what you think of with a team that has that kind of record and what they’ve been able to do this season.”
The Volunteer offense is led by junior first baseman Blake Burke (.422 BA, 20 2B, 36 RBI), RS sophomore outfielder Kavares Tears (.377 BA, 11 HR, 30 RBI), and Clemson transfer Billy Amick (.359 BA, 12 HR, 30 RBI) Burke’s 20 doubles are tied for most in the nation, and Tennessee’s 101 total home runs lead the nation.
Right-hander Drew Beam and left-hander Zander Sechrist, two of Tennessee’s starting pitchers this weekend, pitched against the Cats last season. Beam was rocked in his start, as he gave up five hits and four earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings pitched. Sechrist didn’t fare well either, giving up a two-run home run to Jackson Gray in just 1/3 inning of relief.
Tennessee leads the all-time series over the Cats 165-156, and the winner of this weekend’s series may have the claim for the No. 1 ranking in next week’s Top 25.
Kentucky
The Cats have won 31 of their first 36 games this season, compiling a 31-5 (14-1) record. 31-5 matches their best 36-game start to a season in school history (2012), and their 14-1 start in SEC play is the best in program history. With a sweep this weekend, Kentucky could be on the verge of even more history.
The best start to SEC play came back in 2022, when Tennessee opened conference play 17-1. With a sweep of the Volunteers this weekend, Kentucky could tie the conference record for best start in SEC play. The Cats are however keeping level headed and treating this weekend as any other.
“The most important game on our schedule is the one we’re playing at that time,” head coach Nick Mingione said.. “They really haven’t put more value on each game. That’s hard to get 18-to-20 year olds to do. They have really done an amazing job of just focusing on the task at hand, whether that be practice today, games, or finishing up strong on their finals.”
Starting catcher Devin Burkes left Tuesday’s win over Louisville early due to a hamstring injury. Nick Mingione however gave a positive update on Burkes Thursday morning.
“It’s his hamstring. He had a great day of rehab yesterday and we’ll evaluate him again today. I know Devin, he’s gonna try to get in there this weekend.” It looks as if the Captain will try to give it a go.
Burkes, Kentucky’s three-hole batter, is hitting .235 this season with eight doubles and 23 RBI.
Kentucky first baseman Ryan Nicholson has been on a tear as of late, as he’s belted seven home runs over the last six games. Other players such as Ryan Waldschmidt (.339 BA, 6 HR, 25 RBI), Nick Lopez (.403 BA, 14 2B, 29 RBI), and Émilien Pitre (.310 BA, 13 2B, 35 RBI) have reached that next level of play needed to be one of, if not THE top team, in the nation’s premier conference.
The Cats rose to the No. 4 national seed in D1Baseball’s latest Field of 64 Projections, and could rise even higher with a series victory this weekend. Kentucky last won a series against Tennessee back in 2022, when the Volunteers were ranked No. 1 in the country.
Regular admission seats are sold out, but general admission is still available here. Kentucky Proud Park is likely to set a new regular season attendance record this weekend.
“That’s what we want every game,” Mingione said. “There’s been a lot of people that have put in a ton of work in order for that to happen. When you just think about that with this program, a regular season game which is number three vs number four. Two teams battling for not just the Eastern division but the overall conference. That only happens because there’s been intentional effort by a lot of people.”
Probable Starters
ALL-TIME SERIES: Tennessee leads 165-156
Game 1: Thursday, April 11, 2024 (Kentucky Proud Park – 6:30 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: RHP Trey Pooser (3-0, 4.11 ERA, 35.0 IP) vs UT: KHP Chris Stamos (6-1, 3.12 ERA, 40.1 IP)
Game 2: Friday, April 12, 2024 (Kentucky Proud Park – 2:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: LHP Dominic Niman (7-2, 3.40 ERA, 53.0 IP) vs UT: RHP Drew Beam (5-1, 3.16 ERA, 51.1 IP)
Game 3: Saturday, April 13, 2024 (Kentucky Proud Park – 1:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: RHP Mason Moore (7-0, 3.45 ERA, 47.0 IP) vs UT: LHP Zander Sechrist (1-0, 3.34 ERA, 32.1 IP)
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