After an inexcusable loss to Morehead State on Tuesday, Kentucky is back in action this weekend on the road against 0-3 Evansville. The Purple Aces have stumbled out of the gates, losing two games to Marshall and a single game to Kennesaw State by a combined score of 34-16.
This is a series that Kentucky simply has to sweep. You cannot drop a game to Morehead State and then turn around and drop one to a struggling Evansville squad. Doing so will only amplify the panic surrounding that midweek disaster.
Why Kentucky baseball must dominate the Evansville series
To get back on track, the Wildcats have to rely on the biggest strength they showed during opening weekend: elite starting pitching.
Last weekend, Kentucky's starting rotation was nothing short of dominant. The starters, who were led by the electric Jaxon Jelkin, logged 12 innings over three games, allowing just seven hits, one earned run, zero walks, and striking out an incredible 22 batters. Unfortunately, that momentum completely vanished when Chase Alderman struggled heavily in his Tuesday start against Morehead State, ultimately costing the Cats a very winnable game.
They desperately need quality starts this weekend to repeat their early success against a team that is currently reeling.
Adjusting to life without Tyler Bell
Making this weekend even more challenging is the absence of star shortstop Tyler Bell. Fans shouldn't expect the projected first-round draft pick back anytime soon, if at all, after he suffered a significant shoulder injury while diving for a ball on Opening Day.
However, even without Bell's bat in the lineup, the Cats should find plenty of offensive success against the Evansville pitching staff, who have been questionable so far.
Scouting the Evansville pitching staff
The good news for Kentucky is that Evansville's Friday starter, Kenton Deverman, has struggled early on. After taking a step back in 2025 (67.1 IP, 5.61 ERA, 1.43 WHIP), the lefty allowed two home runs in his first start this season. Throughout his career, Deverman has allowed 25 home runs across 182.1 innings.
The bad news? Kentucky is not exactly a power-hitting team yet, having only recorded one home run on the season, and Evansville plays in a stadium that is 330 down each corner. In other words, it's not small.
On Saturday, the Aces will roll out Max Hansmann and left-handed pitcher Kevin Reed for the doubleheader. Both are great strikeout artists, but they struggle heavily with command. Hansmann carries a massive 14.4% career walk rate, while Reed sits at 16.5%. If the Cats can stay patient at the plate, which they have been very good at, they should see plenty of free base runners and opportunities to score.
Beware of Charlie Longmeier
Despite Evansville's struggles, Kentucky's pitching staff cannot overlook Charlie Longmeier. The Purple Aces' starting left fielder slashed .303/.415/.495 as a redshirt freshman in 2025, posting an OPS north of .900.
The left-handed hitter has speed (12 steals last year), power (21 extra-base hits), and great plate discipline (42 strikeouts to 36 walks). He has started this season in a brutal 0-13 slump and has yet to reach base. Baseball fans know exactly what that means: he is dangerously due for a heater.
If the Cats can keep Longmeier quiet and remain patient at the plate, a 3-0 weekend is entirely within reach.
How to watch and listen
- Friday (Game 1): 4:00 PM ET (Streaming on ESPN+)
- Saturday (Doubleheader): 1:00 PM ET (No TV coverage; listen live on UKAthletics.com)