The Kentucky Wildcats are looking for a quick rebound.
After a frustrating 6-4 midweek loss to in-state rival Western Kentucky, the Wildcats head to Starkville for a doubleheader against a Mississippi State team making headlines of its own—for all the wrong reasons.
The Bulldogs (currently 26-19) parted ways with head coach Chris Lemonis earlier this week, ending a tenure that included a 2021 national championship but has since fizzled into mediocrity. Sources close to the program say the early firing is all about timing—Mississippi State wants a head start in the transfer portal race, a move becoming more common in college baseball’s evolving landscape.
Kentucky (25-17) would prefer to let its play do the talking after Tuesday night’s loss in Bowling Green. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead at Nick Denes Field, but a four-run fifth inning by the Hilltoppers flipped the script and handed Kentucky another tough mid-week loss.
Despite out-hitting WKU 9-8, the Wildcats couldn’t string together timely offense or suppress Western’s bats when it mattered most. James McCoy launched a home run and Tyler Bell had a multi-hit day, but defensive miscues proved costly. Starter Ethan Walker (1-1) pitched into the fifth but gave up four runs (three earned), and Kentucky used six pitchers in total.
Now they’ll try to regroup against a Mississippi State team in transition, and they’ll have to do it quickly—first pitch of Game 1 is at 3 p.m. ET today, followed by Game 2 at 7 p.m. in a day-night doubleheader at Dudy Noble Field.
The Bulldogs may be slumping, but Starkville remains one of the toughest venues in the country. Kentucky will need its veteran bats like Cole Hage, Ryan Schwartz, and Hudson Brown to continue producing. Brown doubled twice against WKU and continues to be a steady presence in the middle of the lineup.
Pitching depth will be key in the doubleheader, especially after a bullpen-heavy night on Tuesday. Kentucky will likely lean on Hayden Smith and Tommy Skelding, both of whom tossed scoreless frames in relief midweek, to help keep the Bulldogs in check.
For the Wildcats, this weekend is about more than just the win column—it’s about resetting the tone before the final stretch of SEC play.