PREVIEW: Struggling Kentucky and Texas A&M to clash in College Station

It’s been a rough start to SEC play for both Kentucky and Texas A&M, as the teams enter this weekend’s series a combined 2-10 through two weeks. Something’s got to give.

The Aggies have lost seven of their last 10 games, while the ‘Cats have lost six of their last eight. This recent stretch has been a far cry from last season, as both teams reached the Men’s College World Series and even played each other on June 17, 2024. Eventual runner-up Texas A&M beat Kentucky 5-1.

Both teams enter the series looking at it as a “must-win”, as those 15 SEC wins are so crucial to accrue in building an NCAA Tournament resume. Kentucky would have to finish *at least* 13-11 and Texas A&M would have to finish 15-9 (in conference play) to hit that benchmark.

Texas A&M Aggies (12-12, 0-6)

Through the first 25 or so games of the 2025 College Baseball season, Texas A&M has been the biggest disappointment in the entire sport.

The Aggies were tabbed as the Preseason No. 1 team in the country by D1Baseball, but currently sit unranked after opening the season with a 12-12 (0-6) record. Through their first six conference games against Alabama and Vanderbilt, A&M has been outscored 30-15.

Their pitching staff has actually been great, as they boast a 3.06 ERA (second best in SEC) and have allowed just 63 earned runs this season (T-second best in SEC). Led by redshirt junior right-hander Ryan Prager, whose 2.17 ERA ranks fourth in the conference, the Aggies actually boast one of the best staffs in the entire nation. Three of the top 10 ERA leaders in the SEC even hail from A&M (Prager and lefties Myles Patton and Justin Lamkin). However, their offense has been extremely lackluster and downright bad.

As a team, A&M is hitting for a combined .256 average, which is 25 points less than Vanderbilt (second-worst in the conference). Some of this can be attributed to injuries to key players such as sophomore third baseman Gavin Grahovac, senior first baseman Gavin Kash and sophomore left fielder Caden Sorrell. However, the players who are healthy have just been extremely underwhelming.

Preseason College Baseball Player of the Year junior outfielder Jace LaViolette, who hit for a .305 average with 29 home runs last season, is hitting for just a .282 average with six home runs in 2025. Junior shortstop Kaeden Kent, who hit for a .327 average last season, is hitting just .264 in an expanded role this season. All through the lineup, guys who were expected to do more are doing less.

Their offense will need to figure itself out fast, or the Aggies may miss the NCAA Tournament in its entirety just one season removed from nearly winning it.

Kentucky Wildcats (15-8, 2-4)

After opening the 2025 season with a 13-2 record, the Wildcats have dropped six of their last eight games and now sit at 15-8. Kentucky had not lost six out of eight games since April 9-22, 2023 and had not recorded eight losses before April since the 2022 season (missed NCAA Tournament).

Kentucky has also dropped two consecutive midweek games to Murray State and Xavier, something it also hadn’t done since 2022.

Kentucky’s offense, defense and pitching has been extremely below average over the past eight games. As a team, the ‘Cats are hitting for a .268 average (72-269) and boast a team 7.50 ERA (60 ER in 72 IP). Along with these numbers, they have committed nine errors over the eight game span. Some of these errors have been extremely costly, such as Tyler Bell‘s dropped infield fly in the ninth inning of the opening game of the Auburn series.

Some of these blunders weren’t even recorded as errors, including James McCoy over-running second base and being thrown out down one in the ninth inning of their midweek matchup against Murray State, Kyuss Gargett attempting to steal home and being caught to end the Auburn game and Luke Lawrence being thrown out at third trying to leg out a triple in the bottom of the ninth inning down six runs to Xavier. The Cats will have to cut out these errors and blunders if they want to come away with a series victory in College Station this weekend.

“We just need to execute better,” Nick Mingione said following Kentucky’s 9-3 loss to Xavier on Tuesday. “When we do, we get the results we want and when you don’t, that’s the results you get.”

If there’s one bright spot to take away from this stretch however, it’s been the play of sophomore left-hander Ben Cleaver. Cleaver is responsible for both of Kentucky’s wins in SEC play, as he’s allowed just three earned runs with 11 strikeouts in nine innings. His 2.67 ERA is the best among all SEC sophomores.

Offensively, the ‘Cats are hitting for a .293 average (10th in SEC). Senior left fielder Cole Hage has been in a slump recently, but still leads Kentucky with a .370 average with six home runs and a .667 SLG%. Senior third baseman Patrick Herrera, who has been moved to Kentucky’s leadoff hitter, sits at a .348 average.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Texas A&M leads 14-8

Friday, March 28, 2025 (Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park – 7:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: RHP Nic McCay (3-0, 2.20 ERA, 28.2 IP) vs TAMU: LHP Ryan Prager
Saturday, March 29, 2025 (Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park – 3:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: LHP Ben Cleaver (2-1, 2.37 ERA, 30.1 IP) vs TAMU: LHP Justin Lamkin
Sunday, March 30, 2025 (Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park – 2:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network+
UK: LHP Ethan Walker (0-0, 6.23 ERA, 17.1 IP) vs TAMU: LHP Myles Patton

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