Coach Nick Mingione says his players have the confidence it takes to win. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky’s remarkable 22-3 start, that included a 5-1 mark in Southeastern Conference play, has been one of the best stories in college baseball considering the Cats did not make the NCAA Tournament last season.
“Sometimes you have got to figure out what you don’t want before you know what you want,” Kentucky coach Nick Mingione said. “They (UK players) have seen what it is like on the other side and panicked and it did not work. It takes a certain level of confidence to do what our players have been doing.”
The No. 16 Wildcats (22-3, 5-1) have won 18 of their last 19 games, including a 10-8 road win at Western Kentucky on Tuesday where Jackson Gray and Grant Smith drove in seven total runs via the long ball, going into this weekend’s series against Missouri.
One key to UK’s resurgence has been the depth of the pitching staff. Kentucky has three pitchers with three wins but 12 different pitchers have won a game and the staff has a combined ERA of 3.20.
“You have to have depth to peel off wins. Weather can be a real challenge here in Lexington and it’s big for us to be able to use so many guys in different situations. That pays off later in the season in a big way,” Mingione said.
Junior reliever Ryan Hagenow has been sensational in 10 appearances. He has worked 14 2/3 innings without giving up a run. He has allowed just four hits.
“We have a lot of good dudes on the team. He is a guy who waited his turn, battled injuries. He is having a great year,” Mingione said. “No one is surprised he is having success because of how talented he is. I don’t anticipate him doing this all season but he has been great.”
So has Longwood University transfer Hunter Gilliam. The senior infielder is hitting .398 with five home runs and 35 RBI’s. He was named national player of the week earlier this season.
“There is so much video you can watch in the transfer portal to evaluate. The hardest part is figuring out what is inside somebody’s heart,” Mingione said. “He has the heart of a lion. He is one of our vocal leaders and is doing very well.”
Catcher Devin Burkes is a .292 hitter with four homers and has driven in 29 runs. Emilien Pitre is hitting .360 with 27 runs scored and Gray is hitting .356 with 29 runs scored.
“I am really thankful for some of the attention our guys have gotten and they deserve it,” the Kentucky coach said. “We had a 17-game win streak, the nation’s longest and you have to do a lot of things right for that to happen.
“We played a challenging non-conference schedule and then the league is always a meat grinder. We have a good team but two of the last three years we have been right in the mix (to make the NCAA Tournament)and fell a game or two short. Last year we were on the bubble. Ole Miss, the ninth best SEC team, got in and won the national championship. We were 10th on the list.”
Missouri lost three games at South Carolina last weekend but two were by one run. The previous week Missouri swept Tennessee and twice held the Vols to only one run.
“So many factors go into winning and Missouri has a really nice team,” Mingione said. “We hope a lot of fans will come out and support us because that really does help.”
