April 19, 2024 • 20 mins
Off to a 31-5 start, UK Baseball hosts Tennessee in a top-five showdown this weekend. Darren Headrick stops by to preview the matchup and discuss UK's midweek win at Louisville! We also preview UK Softball's weekend at Auburn, UK Track and Field celebrating seniors at home, and UK Tennis in action at the SEC Tournament.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:15):
Happy Friday, Big Blue Nation.Welcome inside another episode of the UK Sports
Network Today Podcast presented by The BigBlue Brew. A big weekend across Lexington
has finally arrived, a lot ofstuff going on around town. We're going
to tell you about two specific events. In fact, we're going to have
a guest to preview baseball taking onnumber four Tennessee at Kentucky Proud Park.
(00:38):
Really really excited to get down thereand see that series and a really good
chance for Kentucky to set themselves aparton the diamond and to really get themselves
not only solidified for regional hosting,but have a chance if they are to
win that regional to host a SuperRegional as the Cats look to make it
two straight years with the Super Regionalappearance and pursue obviously Omaha as well UK
(01:00):
Track and Field in town this weekendas well, they'll celebrate Senior Day festivities.
More on that a little bit later. Right now, we want to
remind you that the UK Sports NetworkToday Podcast is presented by the Big Blue
Brew, the official newsletter of UKAthletics. You can sign up today at
Ukathletics dot com slash Big Blue Brew. It's completely free and it hits in
(01:22):
boxes every weekday morning. Once again, that's Ukathletics dot Com slash Big Blue
Brew. We did mention just afew moments ago that we had a guest
to preview baseball series against Tennessee atKentucky Proud Park. The voice of the
Cats, Darren Hedrick, kind enoughafter the Kentucky's marathon win against the Louisville
Cardinals in the midweek to join us. After we get done chatting with Darren,
(01:45):
we'll take a look back at thatgame just a little bit further.
We'll also recap softballs win against WesternKentucky and look at head at their weekend.
They are at Auburn, a bitof unique schedule though for softball they
are Saturday, Sunday and Monday.But first Darren to talk about that great
win against Louisville and to preview thebig series this weekend against Tennessee, a
(02:07):
megabig weekend on tap for UK Baseballoff to their best start since twenty twelve,
it's actually tied for the best startin program history. So you know,
we had to bring on Darren Hedrick, our very first recurring guest on
the UK Sports Network Today podcast,Darren, you can't hear the applause because
the mic is not pointed to thecrowd, but the studio audience is thrilled.
(02:28):
Her here after last night's win againstLouisville. Well, I am excited
to be talking baseball with you,Andrew. I mean this team. I'm
running out of adjective to use whenreferring to what this team is doing.
And I think I even said iton the air last night. Even teams
that are accustomed to going to collegeWorld Series on a pretty annual basis,
(02:53):
the biggest powers, they don't dowhat this baseball team has done this year,
winning tennisee see games in a row, and sitting there thirty one and
five. This is just a phenomenalrun by a program that coach minji On
and his staff has been growing forthe last couple of years. People forget
that twenty twenty two team that justmissed the regional was a good team,
(03:14):
and then last year they broke through. And you know, we'll see what
the destiny is for this group.Man thirty one and five outstanding. Let's
go to last night Louisville at Louisville. Nearly five thousand in the House.
There was a lot of blue there, a lot of blue there. So
really grateful for Big Blue Nation tomaking the trip into quote unquote enemy territory.
(03:35):
But have you recovered from that?Thirty runs over four hours of game
time, but luckily the Cats comeout on top seventeen to thirteen. I'm
just happy to have a voice today. Yeah, I mean, just what
a game. And I think atone point on the broadcast, I use
the word ridiculous when describing what bothoffenses were doing. Really, I mean,
(04:00):
and it was just the pitching staffsfor both teams were doing whatever they
could to try to make outs.But it was just line drives, hard
contact, two elite offensive teams goingat it. And fortunately Kentucky had just
a little bit more punch in thelineup to outslug the Cardinals and bring Holme
that wig. Well, a lotof punch came from the top of the
(04:23):
lineup. Ryan Waldschmidt six runs knockedin. It's hard pressed for me to
remember a night like he had lastnight. Yeah, six rb eyes,
two home runs. He finished withthree hits. His other hit nobody's talking
about was a double that scored acouple of runs. And so you just
look at his overall nights and whatan effort. And here's a little symmetry
(04:46):
for you, Andrew. Back intwenty twenty one, the last time Kentucky
beat Louisville in the Derby City atPatterson Stadium, a shortstop named Ryan Ritter
had six RB eyes in the win. Last night, Ryan Waldschmidt six RBIs
in the win. Kentucky won intwenty twenty one to eleven to seven.
(05:08):
They won last night seventeen to thirteen. So something about guys named Ryan playing
at Patterson Stadium driving in runs usuallyworks out well for the Wildcats. It'll
go technically down as it come frombehind win because Louisville did go in front
there briefly. But you know,not to divert back to Sunday, but
(05:29):
what was really or Saturday, Ishould say, what I love about this
team is that it really doesn't matterwhat the score is because this offense can
come out of anything. I mean, Auburn looked like they were cruising to
settling for a finale victory and savagingand preventing a sweep, but Kentucky erased
a touchdown deficit like it was nothing. Yeah, I mean that's the thing
(05:50):
and coach min Giona and I actuallytalked about that on his pregame show last
night before the Louisville game, abouthow this team stays deaddy in their approach
and what they're trying to do.Whether they're up five runs or down five
runs, they just continue to goat it. He's told us about player
led meetings in the dugout where theybasically strategize this is how we're coming back,
(06:15):
this is how we're putting games together, and the most impressive thing and
this is why they're able to doit. Andrew, the lineup is long.
There is a ton of depth inthis line I mean, your home
run hitter Ryan Nicholson with eleven bombsis hitting sixth in the order. That's
This lineup goes deep all the wayto Grant Smith, who's hovered around a
(06:36):
three hundred average in that ninth spot. I think he's at two ninety seven
entering this weekend. So the lineupis long and any of them can produce.
In the series win over Alabama,twenty three runs on the weekend fifteen
came from the bottom half of thelineup against Auburn. It was balanced one
(06:56):
through nine against Louisville. A lotof runs came from the top of the
lineup. That's why the Kentucky Wildcatsare scoring the way they are and a
big reason, in addition to thatpitching staff, why they're thirty one to
five. This is such a hugerivalry week It wasn't technically supposed to be
that way, I guess on theschedule because of the rain out. But
you have Louisville in the midweek,you get the win, and now the
(07:19):
University of Tennessee comes to town,a top four matchup. Depending on publication,
you know, sometimes Kentucky is highas third, low as consensus top
seven. I guess we'll say inthose polls Tennessee is a fourth in the
pole that we're going to use.So this is three versus four this weekend.
And that's on top of the rivalryaspect of it. I don't really
(07:42):
need to build up much more thanthat. This is going to be a
huge weekend at KPP. It reallyis. And everybody's going to talk about
the offenses going in because Kentucky isa juggernaut. It's the irresistible force and
the immovable object. Offensively, becauseTennessee's batting average is number one one in
the SEC, it's top six inthe NCAA. I think they're hitting like
(08:03):
three point thirty as a team.This is a group that hunts home runs,
and Kentucky knows how to pitch againstthose lineups. Georgia, Old Miss,
Alabama, Auburn. Those are allclubs that look for the big three
run homer. Tennessee's no different.Tennessee's going to put pressure on you and
try to hit bombs. But Ithink the difference is going to come down
(08:26):
to the pitching staffs. That seemsto be the one thing nobody talks about,
and it gets lost in the ufflewith Kentucky and these big hits.
Andrew That's starting rotation for the Wildcatsis one of the best in the SEC,
if not the country. They're established, they have an identity of what
they want to do. Tennessee's gota strong pitching staff too. They're getting
better and better as the season hasprogressed. They've settled down that Friday night
(08:50):
starting role. They're anchored in themiddle. I think it's Drew Beam that
starts on Saturdays. I go backand check. But the pitching staffs,
to me, are going to bethe story of the weekend against Tennessee,
which staff can contain the other's offenseenough to get the win. I was
tickled when I saw the score buglast night, you know, given the
(09:11):
recent history of the programs, reallyjust the general history of the programs,
it was cool to see that numberthree next to Kentucky and not to the
team in red and white, anda similar story this weekend. Tennessee has
been on a great run here thelast handful of years, but it's Kentucky
who's the highest ranked team. We'realready at that point. We're in middle
of April where you're talking teams wantto be in that top eight right where
(09:33):
they get a chance to not onlyhost a regional, but obviously be able
to host a super regional if they'reable to win that regional. And I
got to think this is maybe thebiggest series on the schedule for Kentucky if
they want to do finish in thattop eight. Yeah, you're absolutely right.
And for me, the fun thing, Andrew is because of that fourteen
(09:54):
and one start, the more Kentuckywins, the bigger the next series becomes.
Right now, it's Tennessee and thisis the biggest series of the year.
You win this one, Now theroad trip to South Carolina becomes the
most vital series of the season.You win that one, and now you're
looking at hosting Arkansas, the teamthat was ranked number one before Texas A
(10:16):
and M overtook them. So they'rejust going to get bigger and bigger.
And you know, I just forthis Kentucky team, it's just going to
come down to continue to do whatyou do, battle through it. The
next five weeks are going to betough enough that there will be some adversity.
Kentucky's already facing a little bit ofthat with the status of Devin Burkes
(10:37):
up in the air after his injurylast night. You just have to battle
through it. Stay what they're doing. But you're absolutely right, the hype
around this weekend is going to bea blast. And just for the fans
out there to know, reserve seatsat Kentucky Proud Park are sold out.
General admission is still available while itlasts, so get your tickets now.
(10:58):
And this is going to be aseries where you want to be in person,
because I mean this is you gota ton of draft eligible talent or
guys that will be drafted in thenext year or two on both of these
teams. And as we said,you cannot stress the importance enough of this
series. And to speak on yousaid symmetry earlier, to talk about Ryan
Walshmint and Ryan Ritter and those sixRBIs. It's kind of very symmetrical with
(11:20):
football. You know, you talkabout how there's no easy weeks in SEC
football and the same can be saidfor baseball, so that kind of speaks
to that fourteen and one start.But Darren, it's going to be a
packed house, a Kentucky proud park. You mentioned the sold out nature of
the reserve seating. Encourage folks toget those GA admission tickets because it's worth
it. Even if you don't havea quote unquote dedicated seat. There's so
(11:43):
many great spots to take in aballgame this weekend and we can't wait to
hear your call this weekend as well. It's going to be a blast Andrew,
And like I say, we lookforward to seeing BBN pack that park.
And the message for me, ifyou can't be there in person,
find somebody wearing blue that can andtransfer the tickets. Pack that place and
(12:03):
let these guys know how much youappreciate what they've done for this baseball program
and how they've played this year,and cheer them on against the Big Orange
and what will be, to thispoint the biggest series of the season.
That's a great point. Let's beloud and let's get that place roaring like
we know it can, like itdid at the Regional last year. Darren,
thank you so much for your time. Glad you recovered from last night's
(12:24):
slugfest in the Derby City and welook forward to hearing you this weekend.
Andrew, thanks so much. Alwaysa pleasure to talk to you, my
man, anytime. As Darren mentionedat the time of the taping of this
podcast, there are only general admissiontickets left. Reserve seating all taken up
at Kentucky Proud Park this weekend,but we still hope to see you out
(12:45):
at KPP Game one tonight, Friday, April nineteenth, six point thirty the
first pitch. If you can't makeit out, our UK Sports Network coverage
begins at six point fifteen and thenit's day baseball the rest of the way.
Saturday, two o'clock first pitch thatmeans one forty five pregame with Darren
and then the finale is Sunday,one pm the Star time against Tennessee.
(13:07):
For the finale, Kentucky hoping fora series victory that Sunday or potentially a
series sweep that Sunday against the topfive ranked balls. That'll get started at
one o'clock. If you can't makeit out, our pregame coverage will begin
at twelve forty five, so that'ssix point thirty on Friday, two o'clock
on Saturday, and one o'clock onSunday for UK baseball. Softball also had
(13:33):
an in state opponent for their midweekaction and a little less drama for UK
softball as they were able to runrule the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Good program
who came in with a twenty fiveand fifteen record, but no match for
the Cats, who rolled to atwelve three victory and improved to twenty seven
and fifteen. Really good building blockfor Kentucky after they won the series against
(13:56):
number seven Georgia this past weekend atJohn Stadium, sets them up nicely for
the road series this weekend Saturday throughMonday. That is more on that in
just a moment at Auburn, butlisten to these numbers, twelve runs on
ten hits for the Cats. Howabout Taylor Ebbs, She said a career
high last Friday with four runs knockedin, had three more on Sunday,
(14:18):
Well, how about five in themidweek game. She went two for four,
driving in those five runs, includingcracking her seventh home run of the
season. She was joined in thelong ball department by Grace Lorsung, who
also had a huge day the transferfrom Indiana, her thirteenth home run of
the year, her tenth double aswell, so now in double digits in
both of those extra base hits categories, She's two. She went two for
(14:41):
four, I should say with thosefour runs knocked in, so Ebbs and
Lorsung providing just about all the offensethat Kentucky needed nine of the twelve runs
driven in, and they also scoredtwo of their own as well, so
Kentucky in good shape offensively. JadenVickers got the start, Stephanie schoon Over
finished it off the ace with fourand two thirds innings one run allowed,
(15:03):
just two walks nine punch outs forSchoonover, who got another win, her
seventeenth of the year. She wonFriday, she won Sunday and then she
wins the midweek against Western Kentucky,and we certainly expect her out there on
Saturday to open up the series againstthe Auburn Tigers. We're also excited to
say that Scoonover expected to be ournext guest early next week. Keep an
(15:24):
eye out for that, as wehope to catch up with her while the
team is on the road at Auburn. But what a fabulous season she is
having, now seventeen and six onthe year, UK softball improving to twenty
seven and fifteen overall. Now itis off to Auburn for the number twenty
three softball Wildcats and they will getthings started on Saturday at four o'clock.
(15:46):
All three of these games on nationaltelevision as Saturday on the SEC network at
four o'clock, Sunday under the lightsat seven o'clock on the SEC network,
and the same can be said aboutApril twenty second, seven o'clock start on
the SEC network, so prime timefor the Cats against Auburn. That Monday
(16:07):
game is a really fun broadcast aswell, so hope you're able to tune
into all three, but that Mondayone will be especially fun as well.
If we're wondering the next time thecoach Losson and company will be back at
John Crops Stadium fear not Friday,April twenty sixth, so not this upcoming
weekend obviously, but the following one. The South Carolina game Cocks will be
(16:27):
in Tound for a three game seriesand that'll be the final homestand hard to
believe final homestand of the twenty twentyfour regular season for the softball Cats.
The storied and prestigious annual Jim GreenInvitational this weekend at the Outdoor Track Infield
Complex. It all starts on Fridayat twelve thirty for men's and women's track
(16:49):
and field, and also seniors willbe celebrated this weekend. All the action
starts on Friday at twelve thirty.Running events will commence at approximately four or
thirty. They'll kick things off therewith the women's four hundred meter hurdles,
and then Saturday's events start a littlebit earlier ten thirty am with the continuation
of the women's have tathlon and thewomen's discus throw as well Senior Day ceremony
(17:12):
being held at noon, and thenthe men's and women's four by one hundred
meter relays following the festivities that'll takeplace at approximately twelve forty so again,
Senior Day festivities on Saturday will beat noon, but it'll be a celebration
all week and long of the programsseniors. They're at the very storied Jim
Green Invitational and a lot of greatcompetition expected. Their number of schools are
(17:37):
in town for it, maybe mostnotably Purdue, Notre Dame, Louisville,
Indiana and others all in town tocompete against the Cats at the very historic
Jim Green Invitational. Again, that'sFriday beginning at twelve thirty and then on
Saturday beginning at ten thirty am,with the Senior Day ceremony taking place right
at noon. Not in Lexing,but you know we will be locked in
(18:00):
for it. The SEC champion men'stennis program is set to begin the twenty
twenty four SEC Tournament on Friday nightat seven o'clock. This is in Baton
Rouge though at the LSU Tennis Complex. They had a chance on Thursday to
see who they would take on.It was between Arkansas and Georgia. The
thirty first ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. Thoughwe're the ones to move on and they'll
(18:22):
take on number four Kentucky at seveno'clock on Friday night. If the Cats
are to win semis on Saturday,and then they hope to make it all
the way to the championship match onSunday as the regular season champs begin their
postseason journey. So best of luckto them and again that's at the LSU
Tennis Center beginning at seven o'clock inBaton Rouge on Friday night. In the
(18:47):
SEC Tournament quarterfinals, the women's tennisteam got an opening round win against Mississippi
State four to one on Wednesday,but they did fall to Auburn on Thursday
four nil to end there SEC Tournament. Plenty of options around Lexington to cheer
on your Wildcats. We talked aboutbaseball at Kentucky Proud Park Friday, Saturday,
(19:10):
Sunday, track and field big weekendat the Jim Green Invitational Friday at
twelve thirty, running events at fourthirty and then on Saturday morning beginning at
ten thirty with Senior Day festivities beginningat noon. Hope to see you out
there or tuning in right here onthe UK Sports Network to follow all of
the baseball action. As my manDarren Hedrick, will be behind the mic
(19:30):
this weekend for that mega mega series. Big thanks to Curtis and Michelle at
the UK Sports Network and to ourguests, the voice of the Cats for
Baseball, Darren Hedrick, Thank youso much to you for tuning in this
week. We'll talk to you nextweek here on the podcast early next week,
probably Monday or Tuesday, but wecertainly hope to see you out and
about in Lexington this weekend. Ahuge weekend for the Cats for everybody at
(19:56):
the network. I'm Andrew Cappus sayingwe'll talk to you next time. The
Pinto peple let Into patulet painting patcontain cat conos
Happy Friday, Big Blue Nation.Welcome inside another episode of the UK Sports
Network Today Podcast presented by The BigBlue Brew. A big weekend across Lexington
has finally arrived, a lot ofstuff going on around town. We're going
to tell you about two specific events. In fact, we're going to have
a guest to preview baseball taking onnumber four Tennessee at Kentucky Proud Park.
(00:38):
Really really excited to get down thereand see that series and a really good
chance for Kentucky to set themselves aparton the diamond and to really get themselves
not only solidified for regional hosting,but have a chance if they are to
win that regional to host a SuperRegional as the Cats look to make it
two straight years with the Super Regionalappearance and pursue obviously Omaha as well UK
(01:00):
Track and Field in town this weekendas well, they'll celebrate Senior Day festivities.
More on that a little bit later. Right now, we want to
remind you that the UK Sports NetworkToday Podcast is presented by the Big Blue
Brew, the official newsletter of UKAthletics. You can sign up today at
Ukathletics dot com slash Big Blue Brew. It's completely free and it hits in
(01:22):
boxes every weekday morning. Once again, that's Ukathletics dot Com slash Big Blue
Brew. We did mention just afew moments ago that we had a guest
to preview baseball series against Tennessee atKentucky Proud Park. The voice of the
Cats, Darren Hedrick, kind enoughafter the Kentucky's marathon win against the Louisville
Cardinals in the midweek to join us. After we get done chatting with Darren,
(01:45):
we'll take a look back at thatgame just a little bit further.
We'll also recap softballs win against WesternKentucky and look at head at their weekend.
They are at Auburn, a bitof unique schedule though for softball they
are Saturday, Sunday and Monday.But first Darren to talk about that great
win against Louisville and to preview thebig series this weekend against Tennessee, a
(02:07):
megabig weekend on tap for UK Baseballoff to their best start since twenty twelve,
it's actually tied for the best startin program history. So you know,
we had to bring on Darren Hedrick, our very first recurring guest on
the UK Sports Network Today podcast,Darren, you can't hear the applause because
the mic is not pointed to thecrowd, but the studio audience is thrilled.
(02:28):
Her here after last night's win againstLouisville. Well, I am excited
to be talking baseball with you,Andrew. I mean this team. I'm
running out of adjective to use whenreferring to what this team is doing.
And I think I even said iton the air last night. Even teams
that are accustomed to going to collegeWorld Series on a pretty annual basis,
(02:53):
the biggest powers, they don't dowhat this baseball team has done this year,
winning tennisee see games in a row, and sitting there thirty one and
five. This is just a phenomenalrun by a program that coach minji On
and his staff has been growing forthe last couple of years. People forget
that twenty twenty two team that justmissed the regional was a good team,
(03:14):
and then last year they broke through. And you know, we'll see what
the destiny is for this group.Man thirty one and five outstanding. Let's
go to last night Louisville at Louisville. Nearly five thousand in the House.
There was a lot of blue there, a lot of blue there. So
really grateful for Big Blue Nation tomaking the trip into quote unquote enemy territory.
(03:35):
But have you recovered from that?Thirty runs over four hours of game
time, but luckily the Cats comeout on top seventeen to thirteen. I'm
just happy to have a voice today. Yeah, I mean, just what
a game. And I think atone point on the broadcast, I use
the word ridiculous when describing what bothoffenses were doing. Really, I mean,
(04:00):
and it was just the pitching staffsfor both teams were doing whatever they
could to try to make outs.But it was just line drives, hard
contact, two elite offensive teams goingat it. And fortunately Kentucky had just
a little bit more punch in thelineup to outslug the Cardinals and bring Holme
that wig. Well, a lotof punch came from the top of the
(04:23):
lineup. Ryan Waldschmidt six runs knockedin. It's hard pressed for me to
remember a night like he had lastnight. Yeah, six rb eyes,
two home runs. He finished withthree hits. His other hit nobody's talking
about was a double that scored acouple of runs. And so you just
look at his overall nights and whatan effort. And here's a little symmetry
(04:46):
for you, Andrew. Back intwenty twenty one, the last time Kentucky
beat Louisville in the Derby City atPatterson Stadium, a shortstop named Ryan Ritter
had six RB eyes in the win. Last night, Ryan Waldschmidt six RBIs
in the win. Kentucky won intwenty twenty one to eleven to seven.
(05:08):
They won last night seventeen to thirteen. So something about guys named Ryan playing
at Patterson Stadium driving in runs usuallyworks out well for the Wildcats. It'll
go technically down as it come frombehind win because Louisville did go in front
there briefly. But you know,not to divert back to Sunday, but
(05:29):
what was really or Saturday, Ishould say, what I love about this
team is that it really doesn't matterwhat the score is because this offense can
come out of anything. I mean, Auburn looked like they were cruising to
settling for a finale victory and savagingand preventing a sweep, but Kentucky erased
a touchdown deficit like it was nothing. Yeah, I mean that's the thing
(05:50):
and coach min Giona and I actuallytalked about that on his pregame show last
night before the Louisville game, abouthow this team stays deaddy in their approach
and what they're trying to do.Whether they're up five runs or down five
runs, they just continue to goat it. He's told us about player
led meetings in the dugout where theybasically strategize this is how we're coming back,
(06:15):
this is how we're putting games together, and the most impressive thing and
this is why they're able to doit. Andrew, the lineup is long.
There is a ton of depth inthis line I mean, your home
run hitter Ryan Nicholson with eleven bombsis hitting sixth in the order. That's
This lineup goes deep all the wayto Grant Smith, who's hovered around a
(06:36):
three hundred average in that ninth spot. I think he's at two ninety seven
entering this weekend. So the lineupis long and any of them can produce.
In the series win over Alabama,twenty three runs on the weekend fifteen
came from the bottom half of thelineup against Auburn. It was balanced one
(06:56):
through nine against Louisville. A lotof runs came from the top of the
lineup. That's why the Kentucky Wildcatsare scoring the way they are and a
big reason, in addition to thatpitching staff, why they're thirty one to
five. This is such a hugerivalry week It wasn't technically supposed to be
that way, I guess on theschedule because of the rain out. But
you have Louisville in the midweek,you get the win, and now the
(07:19):
University of Tennessee comes to town,a top four matchup. Depending on publication,
you know, sometimes Kentucky is highas third, low as consensus top
seven. I guess we'll say inthose polls Tennessee is a fourth in the
pole that we're going to use.So this is three versus four this weekend.
And that's on top of the rivalryaspect of it. I don't really
(07:42):
need to build up much more thanthat. This is going to be a
huge weekend at KPP. It reallyis. And everybody's going to talk about
the offenses going in because Kentucky isa juggernaut. It's the irresistible force and
the immovable object. Offensively, becauseTennessee's batting average is number one one in
the SEC, it's top six inthe NCAA. I think they're hitting like
(08:03):
three point thirty as a team.This is a group that hunts home runs,
and Kentucky knows how to pitch againstthose lineups. Georgia, Old Miss,
Alabama, Auburn. Those are allclubs that look for the big three
run homer. Tennessee's no different.Tennessee's going to put pressure on you and
try to hit bombs. But Ithink the difference is going to come down
(08:26):
to the pitching staffs. That seemsto be the one thing nobody talks about,
and it gets lost in the ufflewith Kentucky and these big hits.
Andrew That's starting rotation for the Wildcatsis one of the best in the SEC,
if not the country. They're established, they have an identity of what
they want to do. Tennessee's gota strong pitching staff too. They're getting
better and better as the season hasprogressed. They've settled down that Friday night
(08:50):
starting role. They're anchored in themiddle. I think it's Drew Beam that
starts on Saturdays. I go backand check. But the pitching staffs,
to me, are going to bethe story of the weekend against Tennessee,
which staff can contain the other's offenseenough to get the win. I was
tickled when I saw the score buglast night, you know, given the
(09:11):
recent history of the programs, reallyjust the general history of the programs,
it was cool to see that numberthree next to Kentucky and not to the
team in red and white, anda similar story this weekend. Tennessee has
been on a great run here thelast handful of years, but it's Kentucky
who's the highest ranked team. We'realready at that point. We're in middle
of April where you're talking teams wantto be in that top eight right where
(09:33):
they get a chance to not onlyhost a regional, but obviously be able
to host a super regional if they'reable to win that regional. And I
got to think this is maybe thebiggest series on the schedule for Kentucky if
they want to do finish in thattop eight. Yeah, you're absolutely right.
And for me, the fun thing, Andrew is because of that fourteen
(09:54):
and one start, the more Kentuckywins, the bigger the next series becomes.
Right now, it's Tennessee and thisis the biggest series of the year.
You win this one, Now theroad trip to South Carolina becomes the
most vital series of the season.You win that one, and now you're
looking at hosting Arkansas, the teamthat was ranked number one before Texas A
(10:16):
and M overtook them. So they'rejust going to get bigger and bigger.
And you know, I just forthis Kentucky team, it's just going to
come down to continue to do whatyou do, battle through it. The
next five weeks are going to betough enough that there will be some adversity.
Kentucky's already facing a little bit ofthat with the status of Devin Burkes
(10:37):
up in the air after his injurylast night. You just have to battle
through it. Stay what they're doing. But you're absolutely right, the hype
around this weekend is going to bea blast. And just for the fans
out there to know, reserve seatsat Kentucky Proud Park are sold out.
General admission is still available while itlasts, so get your tickets now.
(10:58):
And this is going to be aseries where you want to be in person,
because I mean this is you gota ton of draft eligible talent or
guys that will be drafted in thenext year or two on both of these
teams. And as we said,you cannot stress the importance enough of this
series. And to speak on yousaid symmetry earlier, to talk about Ryan
Walshmint and Ryan Ritter and those sixRBIs. It's kind of very symmetrical with
(11:20):
football. You know, you talkabout how there's no easy weeks in SEC
football and the same can be saidfor baseball, so that kind of speaks
to that fourteen and one start.But Darren, it's going to be a
packed house, a Kentucky proud park. You mentioned the sold out nature of
the reserve seating. Encourage folks toget those GA admission tickets because it's worth
it. Even if you don't havea quote unquote dedicated seat. There's so
(11:43):
many great spots to take in aballgame this weekend and we can't wait to
hear your call this weekend as well. It's going to be a blast Andrew,
And like I say, we lookforward to seeing BBN pack that park.
And the message for me, ifyou can't be there in person,
find somebody wearing blue that can andtransfer the tickets. Pack that place and
(12:03):
let these guys know how much youappreciate what they've done for this baseball program
and how they've played this year,and cheer them on against the Big Orange
and what will be, to thispoint the biggest series of the season.
That's a great point. Let's beloud and let's get that place roaring like
we know it can, like itdid at the Regional last year. Darren,
thank you so much for your time. Glad you recovered from last night's
(12:24):
slugfest in the Derby City and welook forward to hearing you this weekend.
Andrew, thanks so much. Alwaysa pleasure to talk to you, my
man, anytime. As Darren mentionedat the time of the taping of this
podcast, there are only general admissiontickets left. Reserve seating all taken up
at Kentucky Proud Park this weekend,but we still hope to see you out
(12:45):
at KPP Game one tonight, Friday, April nineteenth, six point thirty the
first pitch. If you can't makeit out, our UK Sports Network coverage
begins at six point fifteen and thenit's day baseball the rest of the way.
Saturday, two o'clock first pitch thatmeans one forty five pregame with Darren
and then the finale is Sunday,one pm the Star time against Tennessee.
(13:07):
For the finale, Kentucky hoping fora series victory that Sunday or potentially a
series sweep that Sunday against the topfive ranked balls. That'll get started at
one o'clock. If you can't makeit out, our pregame coverage will begin
at twelve forty five, so that'ssix point thirty on Friday, two o'clock
on Saturday, and one o'clock onSunday for UK baseball. Softball also had
(13:33):
an in state opponent for their midweekaction and a little less drama for UK
softball as they were able to runrule the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Good program
who came in with a twenty fiveand fifteen record, but no match for
the Cats, who rolled to atwelve three victory and improved to twenty seven
and fifteen. Really good building blockfor Kentucky after they won the series against
(13:56):
number seven Georgia this past weekend atJohn Stadium, sets them up nicely for
the road series this weekend Saturday throughMonday. That is more on that in
just a moment at Auburn, butlisten to these numbers, twelve runs on
ten hits for the Cats. Howabout Taylor Ebbs, She said a career
high last Friday with four runs knockedin, had three more on Sunday,
(14:18):
Well, how about five in themidweek game. She went two for four,
driving in those five runs, includingcracking her seventh home run of the
season. She was joined in thelong ball department by Grace Lorsung, who
also had a huge day the transferfrom Indiana, her thirteenth home run of
the year, her tenth double aswell, so now in double digits in
both of those extra base hits categories, She's two. She went two for
(14:41):
four, I should say with thosefour runs knocked in, so Ebbs and
Lorsung providing just about all the offensethat Kentucky needed nine of the twelve runs
driven in, and they also scoredtwo of their own as well, so
Kentucky in good shape offensively. JadenVickers got the start, Stephanie schoon Over
finished it off the ace with fourand two thirds innings one run allowed,
(15:03):
just two walks nine punch outs forSchoonover, who got another win, her
seventeenth of the year. She wonFriday, she won Sunday and then she
wins the midweek against Western Kentucky,and we certainly expect her out there on
Saturday to open up the series againstthe Auburn Tigers. We're also excited to
say that Scoonover expected to be ournext guest early next week. Keep an
(15:24):
eye out for that, as wehope to catch up with her while the
team is on the road at Auburn. But what a fabulous season she is
having, now seventeen and six onthe year, UK softball improving to twenty
seven and fifteen overall. Now itis off to Auburn for the number twenty
three softball Wildcats and they will getthings started on Saturday at four o'clock.
(15:46):
All three of these games on nationaltelevision as Saturday on the SEC network at
four o'clock, Sunday under the lightsat seven o'clock on the SEC network,
and the same can be said aboutApril twenty second, seven o'clock start on
the SEC network, so prime timefor the Cats against Auburn. That Monday
(16:07):
game is a really fun broadcast aswell, so hope you're able to tune
into all three, but that Mondayone will be especially fun as well.
If we're wondering the next time thecoach Losson and company will be back at
John Crops Stadium fear not Friday,April twenty sixth, so not this upcoming
weekend obviously, but the following one. The South Carolina game Cocks will be
(16:27):
in Tound for a three game seriesand that'll be the final homestand hard to
believe final homestand of the twenty twentyfour regular season for the softball Cats.
The storied and prestigious annual Jim GreenInvitational this weekend at the Outdoor Track Infield
Complex. It all starts on Fridayat twelve thirty for men's and women's track
(16:49):
and field, and also seniors willbe celebrated this weekend. All the action
starts on Friday at twelve thirty.Running events will commence at approximately four or
thirty. They'll kick things off therewith the women's four hundred meter hurdles,
and then Saturday's events start a littlebit earlier ten thirty am with the continuation
of the women's have tathlon and thewomen's discus throw as well Senior Day ceremony
(17:12):
being held at noon, and thenthe men's and women's four by one hundred
meter relays following the festivities that'll takeplace at approximately twelve forty so again,
Senior Day festivities on Saturday will beat noon, but it'll be a celebration
all week and long of the programsseniors. They're at the very storied Jim
Green Invitational and a lot of greatcompetition expected. Their number of schools are
(17:37):
in town for it, maybe mostnotably Purdue, Notre Dame, Louisville,
Indiana and others all in town tocompete against the Cats at the very historic
Jim Green Invitational. Again, that'sFriday beginning at twelve thirty and then on
Saturday beginning at ten thirty am,with the Senior Day ceremony taking place right
at noon. Not in Lexing,but you know we will be locked in
(18:00):
for it. The SEC champion men'stennis program is set to begin the twenty
twenty four SEC Tournament on Friday nightat seven o'clock. This is in Baton
Rouge though at the LSU Tennis Complex. They had a chance on Thursday to
see who they would take on.It was between Arkansas and Georgia. The
thirty first ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. Thoughwe're the ones to move on and they'll
(18:22):
take on number four Kentucky at seveno'clock on Friday night. If the Cats
are to win semis on Saturday,and then they hope to make it all
the way to the championship match onSunday as the regular season champs begin their
postseason journey. So best of luckto them and again that's at the LSU
Tennis Center beginning at seven o'clock inBaton Rouge on Friday night. In the
(18:47):
SEC Tournament quarterfinals, the women's tennisteam got an opening round win against Mississippi
State four to one on Wednesday,but they did fall to Auburn on Thursday
four nil to end there SEC Tournament. Plenty of options around Lexington to cheer
on your Wildcats. We talked aboutbaseball at Kentucky Proud Park Friday, Saturday,
(19:10):
Sunday, track and field big weekendat the Jim Green Invitational Friday at
twelve thirty, running events at fourthirty and then on Saturday morning beginning at
ten thirty with Senior Day festivities beginningat noon. Hope to see you out
there or tuning in right here onthe UK Sports Network to follow all of
the baseball action. As my manDarren Hedrick, will be behind the mic
(19:30):
this weekend for that mega mega series. Big thanks to Curtis and Michelle at
the UK Sports Network and to ourguests, the voice of the Cats for
Baseball, Darren Hedrick, Thank youso much to you for tuning in this
week. We'll talk to you nextweek here on the podcast early next week,
probably Monday or Tuesday, but wecertainly hope to see you out and
about in Lexington this weekend. Ahuge weekend for the Cats for everybody at
(19:56):
the network. I'm Andrew Cappus sayingwe'll talk to you next time. The
Pinto peple let Into patulet painting patcontain cat conos
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