Series Notebook: Pitching Powers Kentucky to Two Victories Over Elon

Kentucky baseball won't be thrilled that it is returning to Lexington with two wins instead of three, but the Bat Cats have plenty to be excited about as it embarks on a 10-game home stand, beginning Tuesday at Evansville.

Game Recaps:

Game 1: Elon 2, Kentucky 0

Game 2: Kentucky 5, Elon 1

Game 3: Kentucky 4, Elon 0

Below are some thoughts on the good and the bad that took place at Latham Park in Elon, N.C. over the weekend:

-First things first, take everything with a grain of salt. I'm willing to offer a free pass on the loss on Friday. It's not great for RPI purposes, but Elon could've went on to win the series. It's the opening weekend, everyone still learning a lot about themselves in the team. The same goes for the positive outcomes. No jumping to conclusions, here.

ON THE MOUND

-Here's the three-day line for the UK pitching staff:

26 IP, 14 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 32 K

That's superbly encouraging for Nick Mingione. He used a grand total of nine arms, though he could've gotten away with just six if he wanted. The trio of Logan Martin, Tyler Bosma and Zack Lee combine for:

16 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 17 K

-Martin allows six of those 10 hits, and seemed to be the least "sharp" of the three. Granted, didn't get to see the rubber game because there was no stream for it (thanks, FloSports) but Lee appeared to hold steady.

-Martin's home run allowed to Elon's Tanner Holliman got windswept over the fence and is nothing more than a fly out on a different day. Harsh, but he did hang a breaking ball and was punished as a result. The off-speed stuff had its moments, but wasn't superb.

-Bosma took a perfect game into the fifth inning and threw six scoreless. Coach Nick Mingione said that when the veteran lefty is at his best, he's rolling ground balls. That held true as he fanned just four, but kept the Phoenix off-balance.

-It goes without saying, but if he's able to comfortably maintain a weekend role and consistently deliver, utilizing a left-hander like Bosma should be of the utmost important for UK.

-Lee followed on Sunday with five scoreless, striking out seven, one off of his career-high. He earned punchouts on both his fastball and breaking ball.

-As impressive as the starters were, I was surprised to see the bullpen hold serve as well as it did. Darren Williams, I mean, wow. Seven K's in three innings is immaculate stuff. Seventh-year activities, only.

-It leaves one wondering how his role will evolve as the season treks onward. Austin Strickland also did well in long relief, allowing a run in three innings, striking out three.

-Mingione emptied the pen after Lee exited on Sunday, giving Big Blue Nation — just a listen, not a glimpse — into some of the high-power options that are waiting in the wings. Both lefty Mag Cotto and ETSU transfer Seth Chavez let the fastball fly, while veteran Ryan Hagenow and East Carolina two-way transfer Ryder Giles also did well. All four arms threw a scoreless inning.

-15 strikeouts, one walk and one run in 10 innings of work from the bullpen is impressive, to say the least.

AT THE PLATE / IN THE FIELD

-My main takeaway on the offensive end? Grant Smith is a baseball magnet. The shortstop got hit by a pitch three times. Seriously, though, the Incarnate Word transfer goes 4-for-8 at the plate and had a hit in all three games — he and first baseman Hunter Gilliam were the only Cats to do so. Replacing Ryan Ritter is quite the chore, but Smith made a great first impression.

-Left fielder Ryan Waldschmidt got on base six times over the weekend, hitting a pair of doubles along the way. He led UK to scoring in the first inning in both of its wins and doesn't seem to have an issue being the leadoff-hitter.

-Devin Burkes is already morphing into that clutch hitter worthy of batting third in the lineup. A two-out, two-strike, two-run single in game two to put the Cats up 3-0, then an opposite field two-run home run to put the Cats ahead 3-0 on Sunday.

-I'm unsure about Émilien Pitre's placement in the lineup hitting fourth, but hey, four hits in a game is four hits in a game.

-James McCoy didn't have a great series, going 2-for-13 with six strikeouts. Mingione hit the draft prospect second in the order all weekend.

-Third baseman Isaiah Byars committed both of Kentucky's errors in the three games. That's a tiny bit worrisome. He also went 0-for-11, the only Wildcat to play every game and not collect a knock. Again, it's the first series of the season. Grain of salt with everything.

-As a team, Kentucky struck out 27 times in 93 at-bats. That's 29 percent. Not exemplary. It also only drew eight walks. Shea Sprague was terrific for Elon on opening day, but there was no other imposing force on the hill for the Phoenix.

LOOKING AHEAD

-The Cats return for 10 games at Kentucky Proud Park. Here's the opponents:

2/21 — Evansville
2/24-26 — Wright State
2/28 — Morehead State
3/3-5 — Indiana State
3/7 — Murray State
3/8 — Ohio

-Much more will be learned about this team over this span of games. Who will Mingione rely on / give chances to in the midweek outings? How will Martin look in his second start? Will the strikeouts emerge as an issue again? Will some power emerge in the lineup?

First pitch between the Wildcats and the Purple Aces on Feb. 21 is set for 4 p.m. EST.