Other Sports

The Bat Cats: Power, Speed and Heart

Published

3 months ago

March 13, 2025

Caleb Bowlin | UK Athletics

Although Head Coach Nick Mingione and his staff had to completely restructure their lineup after the MLB Draft and the transfer portal did its rounds, the Wildcats have formed one of the most well-rounded rosters in the nation.

The Cats’ have 16 home runs as a team in just 15 games. Five of the players, led by Cole Hage with eight stolen bases, have stolen five or more bags this season. Six players, led by Dylan Koontz with 18, have 10 or more RBIs thus far. As a team, they’re hitting .295 and have a combined .909 OPS. This team can truly do it all.

First of all, we have to assess Hage’s season so far. The outfielder is hitting .458 (1.419 OPS) and is leading the teams in total hits, runs and home runs. At this rate, with double-digit games played, it’s clear who the best offensive weapon is.

Next, you can jump to star freshman shortstop with Bell. He’s hitting .333 on the season with, barely behind Hage in just about every stat. He ranks second on the team with both 17 RBIs and 18 total hits.

These two’s amazing outings, along with the other team numbers mentioned above, indicate why they hold an impressive 13-2 record, averaging nearly nine runs a game.

Last weekend, the Wildcats defeated the Wofford Terriers in two out of three games in a weekend series at Kentucky Proud Park.

Mingione gave the team his flowers despite the Cats’ dominant 12-2 win in game one of the series.

“I reminded the guys yesterday how much I think of this Wofford team,” said Mingione. “That’s a really good team, they win a lot of baseball games, and this series ain’t over.”

Mingione was right, because the Terriers would fight with Kentucky through eight innings in game two. The Wildcats had a nightmare ninth inning on the mound, giving up eight runs as a team and ultimately losing 12-5.

However, with the biggest showing of heart, the Wildcats came out in game three and had a clinic on the mound, where LHP Ethan Walker threw the first five innings, striking out four batters and only giving up two hits and one unearned run against 17 batters.

Senior RHP Scott Rouse then took over, striking out four batters and keeping the Terriers from scoring another run in the final four innings. The Wildcats went on to win 2-1. Rouse has struck out 19 batters in only 15 innings this season, and is now 3-0 with a 0.60 ERA.

After its first series win over a competing opponent, Kentucky faced Northern Illinois on Tuesday, March 11 where it only gave up four hits as a team. Freshman Nate Harris threw five innings and only gave up two hits against 19 batters, earning his third win of the season.

Devin Burkes and Luke Lawrence, who both went 2-3 with two RBIs each led the way offensively, leading the Cats to a 9-2 win.

Now, Kentucky will go on the road and face the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs, its first series of conference play.

However, when asked about how much rankings mattered to him, he shifted the focus to his player’s mentalities.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, with all due respect, we respect every opponent and they’re a great team, make no mistake about it,” said Mingione. “Our focus needs to be on us, and what we do, and I feel confident that as long as our focus is on things we can control, then there’s a chance we can get the results we want.”

Kentucky will be on the road in Athens, Georgia from Friday, March 14 from Sunday March 16, hoping to return home to Lexington with a series win.

Related Topics:Kentucky baseball Nick Mingione

Other Sports

Kenny Brooks Lands Class of 2026 Five-Star Recruit Savvy Swords

Published

2 days ago

June 22, 2025

Israel Schill

UK Athletics

Kenny Brooks secured another five-star recruit from the class of 2026 after landing a commitment from On3’s No. 9 player, Savvy Swords.

5 ⭐️ Savvy Swords (no. 18 espnW 100) has committed to Kentucky! 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/33owXNvZ5V— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) June 21, 2025

Swords, a rising senior at Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, New York, is a 6-foot-1 versatile wing who can score from all three levels of the floor.

In addition to her knack for scoring, Swords is a relentless defender who consistently creates havoc with her length and quick-twitch reactions in the passing lanes.

She is ranked as the No. 3 wing in the nation by On3 and is widely considered one of the most complete two-way players in her class.

The commitment marks the second five-star pickup from the class of 2026, as Swords will join Maddyn Greenway — Brooks’ first commit from the class in November 2024 — on the court at historic Memorial Coliseum.

Brooks helped bring Swords to Lexington over women’s basketball powerhouses such as Notre Dame, South Carolina, UCLA and Michigan, and through his excellent track record with player development, she is already set up for success.

Together, Swords and Greenway are on track to elevate the potential of an already stacked Wildcats squad when they arrive in Lexington.

Men's Basketball

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reaching Closer To Coveted Finals MVP

Published

1 week ago

June 17, 2025

Isaiah Pinto

Alonzo Adams | Imagn Images

After trading wins through the first four games of the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City broke the series tie to command a 3-2 lead with back-to-back wins.

The Thunder dominated in their return to Paycom Center as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams combined for 71 points en route to a 120-109 victory. Indiana took a narrow 12-11 lead with 9:03 left in the first quarter and never reclaimed it.

Oklahoma City’s defense stirred havoc on the Pacers all game.

Game one hero Tyrese Haliburton was battling a lower leg injury and was held to only four points. Haliburton went 0-6 from the field, only scoring from the free-throw line.

Gilgeous-Alexander recorded four blocks and two steals in addition to his 31-point performance. The Thunder outnumbered Indiana in blocks 12 to four and steals 15 to nine.

In the fourth, the Thunder shook off a rally by the Pacers that closed their 18-point lead to only two points.

A behind-the-back pass from Gilgeous-Alexander led to a Williams deep ball. Followed by a scoop-and-score by fellow ex-Wildcat Cason Wallace, the OKC lead extended to seven.

Indiana continued to be outmatched by the Thunder defense.

Gilgeous-Alexander persistently split through the Pacers’ double teams and found open teammates, fueling an 18-to-2-point run to close out the win. Claiming the first back-to-back victory for either team this series.

The Kentucky alum finished with a double-double with 31 points and 10 assists, his first of the series.

Game five marked Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth 30-point performance of the NBA Finals. Currently, he is averaging 32.4 points, 5.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 2.4 steals per game.

A Finals victory almost looks certain for the Thunder. Given Halliburton’s injury and the palpable momentum swinging in Oklahoma City’s favor with consecutive wins.

Gilgeous-Alexander is one win away from claiming the first Finals MVP for any Kentucky player in NBA history. Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander would join an exclusive club of legends to earn Finals MVP and league MVP in the same season.

He would become the first double-crowned MVP since LeBron James in 2013.

Other Sports

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Avenges Thunder With Game Two Dominance

Published

2 weeks ago

June 9, 2025

Isaiah Pinto

NBAE via product of Getty Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the ball at the top of the key with the Thunder up 110-109, he spun for a fadeaway with 12 seconds left on the clock.

He missed.

Indiana scrapped for the rebound, eventually handing the ball off to their star, Tyrese Haliburton, with six seconds remaining. Haliburton rose over the Thunder’s Cason Wallace for an off-balanced deep two.

Haliburton sank it.

The Indiana bench leaped and celebrated in excitement as Haliburton gave the Pacers the go-ahead 111-110 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on the road. As the Thunder forfeited a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander walked off the court at the Paycom Center in front of a shell-shocked home crowd without a win despite dropping a game-best 38 points to pair with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Game two started with Indiana and the Thunder going back and forth in what looked like a close game in the making again. Oklahoma City took a 26-20 lead after the first quarter.

The former Wildcat ended the first quarter with six points, only shooting 2-5 from the field with a miss and a make on his two free throw attempts.

Although the scoring wasn’t coming immediately, Gilgeous-Alexander had three assists by finding open teammates. It fueled Thunder big man Chet Holmgren to leap to nine quick points.

In the second quarter, the Pacers’ offense was sputtering.

The Thunder capitalized. Gilgeous-Alexander led his team with nine points in the quarter without a 3-point attempt, rather scoring in the midrange and getting to the basket multiple times, including a hard-fought-and-one bucket. Oklahoma City rushed out to a 19-2 run.

On defense, the league MVP picked two steals from Indiana’s clutches and met Aaron Nesmith at the rim as he swatted Nesmith’s layup away.

Oklahoma City took a commanding 59-41 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Gilgeous-Alexander continued to score proficiently by attacking the rim, nailing off-balanced midrange shots and getting to the free-throw line. Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander shook off the Pacers’ double teams to find open teammates for open looks.

The Thunder kept their foot on the gas and routed Indiana 123-107 to split the series 1-1, a pivotal win for Oklahoma City as the series heads to Indianapolis for the next two games.

Gilgeous-Alexander dominated with 34 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. On defense, he had four steals and a block.

Through the first two games, the 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 36.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.5 steals per game.

Currently, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Finals in points and steals.

As he continues to prove he’s the best player in the series. Gilgeous-Alexander is making a strong case for Finals MVP, which would be a historic feat, making him the first Thunder and Kentucky player to win the award.

But first, Oklahoma City has to beat the Pacers to claim any trophies despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s standout performances.

Next, the Thunder will travel to Indianapolis to take on the Pacers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC.