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In case you missed it, check out ON DECK, the weekend preview of the Texas v. Kentucky matchup >> ON DECK
Here is the Friday instant analysis in case you missed it >> Friday Post Game
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Brunch and baseball - let's get after it. The Horns are back in action today again Kentucky as they look for their 5th series win to start SEC play, while the Wildcats look to erase a four game losing streak and take one from the Horns, who are tied for 1st place in the SEC standings.
While it won't be nearly as cold and gloomy as yesterday, I still expect this to be a lower scoring game that will likely be decided by the bullpens. Texas needs Luke Harrison to be at his best today and roll some ground balls, while the offense needs to largely take the same approach as yesterday, running up the pitch count and getting into the bullpen.
One area where both teams will look to improve upon today is getting timely hits early in the game to take advantage of any free passes and extra base hits.
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Kentucky Wildcats v. #2 Texas Longhorns
Date: April 12
Time: Sat at 11am CT
Where: Lexington, Kentucky
TV: SEC Network
Series History:
- First Met: 1993
- Last Met: 1993
- Last Texas Victory: 1993 – Texas beat the Wildcats 8-3 during the Austin Regional
- All-Time Series Record: 1-0
- Home: 1-0
- Kentucky is picked to finish 13th out of 16 teams
- 2024 Season: Wildcats finished the year 46-16 overall and 22-8 in the SEC, ending their season in a trip to Omaha
Records:
Kentucky Wildcats: 18-13 (5-8 SEC)
Texas Longhorns: 28-4 (12-1 SEC)
Prediction:
- Texas wins the series 2-1
- On the season, I am 21-10
Pitching Matchups:
- Sat – LHP Luke Harrison (2-0, 2.55 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) v. RHP Nic McCay (3-0, 3.44 ERA, 1.24 WHIP)
- Senior with a lot of pitching experience
- Top 120 preseason starting pitcher per D1Baseball
- Transferred from South Dakota State
- Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American (2019)
- All-Summit League First Team (2024)
Kentucky Bullpen:
- Scott Rouse (3-0, 1 save, 4.13 ERA, 28.1 IP)
- Jackson Nove (0-2, 4.71 ERA, 21 IP)
- Tommy Skelding (1-0, 1 save, 5.11 ERA, 12.1 IP)
- Ethan Walker (0-0, 6.00 ERA, 21 IP)
- Simon Gregersen (0-2, 1 save, 7.62 ERA, 13 IP)
Kentucky Offensive Leaders:
- Cole Hage (.346 BA, 1.156 OPS, 9 HR, 26 RBI, .664 SLG%, .493 OB%, 11-13 SB)
- Patrick Herrera (.333 BA, .915 OPS, 1 HR, 20 RBI, .437 SLG%, .478 OB%, 7-7 SB)
- Tyler Bell (.322 BA, .947 OPS, 5 HR, 31 RBI, .551 SLG%, .396 OB%, 5-9 SB)
- Shaun Montoya (.287 BA, .792 OPS, 1 HR, 17 RBI, .389 SLG%, .403 OB%, 10-11 SB)
STARTING LINEUPS:
Texas
In case you are curious, A-Rod last played LF for a game back in his Junior year of HS.
| 1 | 2b | 5 Ethan Mendoza | R | .363 | |
| 2 | c | 6 Rylan Galvan | R | .333 | |
| 3 | cf | 8 Will Gasparino | R | .279 | |
| 4 | 3b | 31 Casey Borba | R | .268 | |
| 5 | lf | 24 Adrian Rodriguez | B | .313 | |
| 6 | ss | 1 Jalin Flores | R | .283 | |
| 7 | dh | 35 Jaquae Stewart | L | .212 | |
| 8 | 1b | 10 Kimble Schuessler | R | .295 | |
| 9 | rf | 43 Tommy Farmer IV | R | .280 | |
| 10 | p | 53 Luke Harrison | L |
Kentucky
| Spot | Pos | # Player | Bats | Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2b | 10 Luke Lawrence | L | .287 | |
| 2 | ss | 6 Tyler Bell | B | .317 | |
| 3 | 3b | 1 Patrick Herrera | R | .337 | |
| 4 | c | 7 Devin Burkes | R | .268 | |
| 5 | lf | 12 Cole Hage | R | .333 | |
| 6 | dh | 33 Kyuss Gargett | B | .182 | |
| 7 | cf | 2 Shaun Montoya | L | .295 | |
| 8 | rf | 9 Ethan Hindle | R | .213 | |
| 9 | 1b | 13 James McCoy | B | .222 | |
| 10 | p | 5 Nic McCay | R | - |
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