Kentucky beats out Evansville in offensive battle

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Before the 2023 season, Kentucky head baseball coach Nick Mingione said his Cats will score more runs this season, largely because of this year’s roster makeup and because of England’s home stadium, Kentucky Proud Park.

The manufacturing element of the offense was on full display Tuesday night in the Cats’ home opener against Evansville. Kentucky bunted, stole a base and was aggressive on the basepaths en route to a 6-3 win over the Purple Aces.

After falling behind 1-0, the Cats entered the board in the bottom of the second inning. Hunter Gilliam led off with a double and scored England’s first run on a triple by James McCoy. One out later, with Isaiah Byars at the plate, McCoy broke for home on an apparent squeeze play. But Byars missed the bunt and McCoy was hung up between third and home. As he retreated to third, a throw from Evansville catcher Brendan Hord hit McCoy in the back and scooted into left field, allowing McCoy to score.

In the third, the Cats extended their lead when Jackson Gray laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring Ryan Waldschmidt. It was one of five bunts that UK attempted in the game.

Mingione thinks the Cats this year could be one of the best bunting teams and he knows that bunting can be important.

“It is. And it’s part of what we do,” Mingione said. “We bunted five times today, four of them were successful. That’s part of what we have to do. This ballpark demands run prevention. Every time we can get our opponent to come in a little more, it opens up more holes and forces. he makes more a lot of drama.”

Mingione knows that bunting can be an important part of an offensive attack.

“There are six components to an offense and one of them,” Mingione said. “That’s something we’re going to do this year.”

In the bottom of the fourth, the Cats would score three times using the small ball to do some damage. First, Chase Stanke singled in McCoy. Later in the inning, Grant Smith laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Stanke, giving the Cats a 5-2 lead. The Cats wrapped up the scoring in that frame when Devin Burkes was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home Byars to make it 6-2.

It’s all part of the chaos the Cats want to create on the basepaths this season.

“We want our guys to attack. That’s how we have to play,” Mingione said. “And I think it’s a fun way to play. It’s similar to the up-tempo style of the offense in football. I guys like that. I like to play the way and put some pressure on our opponent.”

The Cats used several offensive tools to beat Evansville on Tuesday night. It’s something Mingione and the Cats will use more of as the season progresses.