Kentucky baseball is teetering on the edge. After dropping five of their last six games, the Wildcats sit at 15-7 overall and a shaky 2-4 in SEC play as they head into a must-win series against Texas A&M this weekend (March 28–30, 2025). With base-running blunders and shaky pitching plaguing the team, the road trip to College Station could be a turning point—or a breaking point—for a season that started with promise. Can the Cats turn it around?
The Downward Spiral
The slide began on SEC Opening Day, March 14, against No. 3 Georgia in Athens. Kentucky fell 12-6, exposing some shaky pitching. They salvaged a 10-7 win the next day but collapsed in the series finale, losing 17-10. Back home, midweek woes continued with a 5-4 loss to Murray State on March 18. Then came No. 16 Auburn: Kentucky dropped tight contests 8-7 and 8-7 (11 innings) before a 6-0 shutout win on March 23 offered a flicker of hope. But Tuesday’s 9-3 defeat to Xavier at home—where nine pitchers combined for nine walks and two hit batters—underscored persistent issues. At .288, the team’s batting average isn’t the problem; execution is. And a loss to a sub .500 Xavier team isn't helping.
Stats Tell the Story
Cole Hage (.377, 6 HR, 18 RBI) and Patrick Herrera (.371, 18 RBI) have been offensive bright spots, but the lineup’s depth has faltered. Devin Burkes (.317) and Tyler Bell (.310) contribute, yet the team’s .460 slugging percentage hasn’t translated to wins. Pitching is the real culprit: a 3.71 ERA masks inconsistency. Nic McCay (2.20 ERA) and Ben Cleaver (2.37 ERA) have been solid starters, but the bullpen—Evan Byers (5.40 ERA) and Simon Gregersen (6.52 ERA)—has hemorrhaged runs. Base running hasn’t helped: 56 stolen bases sound impressive, but 11 caught stealing and six pickoffs reveal sloppy play.
Texas A&M: Do or Die
Kentucky faces a Texas A&M squad that’s winless in SEC play (0-6 as of March 23, per X posts), fresh off a sweep by Vanderbilt. The Aggies, ranked No. 1 preseason, are reeling after coach Jim Schlossnagle’s exit to Texas, but their talent—including outfielder Jace LaViolette (.305, 29 HR in 2024)—remains dangerous. Kentucky’s schedule softens after this (Xavier, Wofford), making this series a chance to regain footing. A sweep could push them to 5-4 in the SEC; a loss might bury them deeper in a stacked conference.
Can They Fix It?
The Wildcats’ season isn’t lost—yet. Their 15-7 record isn't great but with 29 games remaining and the SEC’s depth,, the schedule offers redemption opportunities. But base-running errors (e.g., Devin Burkes picked off twice) and bullpen meltdowns must stop. Coach Nick Mingione needs McCay and Cleaver to anchor the rotation while the offense, led by Hage and Herrera, capitalizes on Texas A&M’s struggles. Friday’s 7 p.m. ET opener is step one.
Conclusion
Kentucky baseball’s five losses in six games have turned a promising start into a desperate scramble. The Texas A&M series isn’t just another weekend—it’s a referendum on whether the Wildcats can salvage their SEC hopes. Two teams with a promising start are going to duel, and one team will have a lot of work left to do. Tune in this weekend: the Cats’ season hangs in the balance.