Kentucky baseball (18-12, 5-7 SEC) is set to host No. 2 Texas (27-4, 11-1) for the first time ever as SEC opponents.

What to Watch

The Wildcats enter the series on a three-game losing streak as the Bat Cats dropped two to then No. 9 Ole Miss and lost their recent midweek matchup against No. 14 Louisville.

In conference play, Kentucky along with the Rebels series loss, have also dropped series to Georgia and Auburn. Kentucky’s lone series win came on the road against Texas A&M.

The Longhorns joined the loaded conference in 2025 and have already made their mark early in conference play. Texas has swept both Georgia and Missouri along with taking two out of three against LSU.

Due to being in different conferences, the two programs have not crossed paths to much on the diamond, as the teams last faced in 1993 in the Austin Regional.

Offense

Beginning with an overall look at both teams, the home Wildcats are 13th in the SEC with a .279 batting average. When it comes to on-base percentage, Kentucky is eighth in the conference at .408. The Bat Cats are 14th in the SEC with a .441 slugging percentage.

The visiting Longhorns are 10th in the SEC when it comes to batting average at .292. Texas is getting on-base at a .400 clip, which is 11th in the conference. Texas is sixth in the SEC with a .530 slugging percentage.

When looking at individual threats, Cole Hage leads Kentucky starters in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage with marks of .346, .493 and .664 respectively.

Patrick Herrera is just behind Hage in batting average and on-base percentage amongst starters at .333 and .478 respectively. Herrera is slugging at a .437 clip on the season.

Rounding out the main offensive threats is freshman Tyler Bell, who leads the Wildcats in RBIs with 31. The switch-hitter is only behind Hage in slugging percentage for starters at .551. Bell is hitting to a .322 batting average and getting on-base at a .396 clip.

The Wildcats will look to rely on Hage’s complete season thus far, Herrera’s consistency and the freshman phenom Bell to drive the offensive approach against Texas.

Switching over to the Longhorns, Ethan Mendoza leads the visitors in both batting average and on-base percentage with numbers at .361 and .476 respectively. Mendoza comes into to the series with a .529 slugging percentage.

Max Belyeu is the main power threat for Texas as he boasts a team-leading .642 slugging percentage. Belyeu is also hitting to a .358 batting average and a .465 on-base percentage.

Adrian Rodriguez rounds out the visiting offensive threats as he comes into Lexington with a .326 batting average, .385 on-base percentage and a .568 slugging percentage.

Overall Pitching

Kentucky enters the weekend series with a 4.20 team ERA on the season, which is eighth in the SEC. The Bat Cats are 10th in the conference with a .228 batting average against.

Texas is first in the SEC with a 3.03 team ERA on the season. The Longhorns are tied for third in the conference with a .208 batting average against.

Pitching Matchups

Kentucky is expected to send Nate Harris to the mound for his second consecutive SEC start as the righty moved from his midweek role to the weekend rotation against Ole Miss. In his six starts this season, Harris has allowed nine earned runs in 25 2/3 innings of work, which equates to a 3.16 ERA. The right-hander has struck out 17 batters and walked eight. Opposing hitters are batting .213 off of Harris.

Jared Spencer is expected to get the ball for the Longhorns, and he’s pitched to a 3.20 ERA as he’s given up 16 earned runs in 45 innings pitched. The left-hander leads the Texas staff with 58 strikeouts. Spencer has walked 20 batters and opposing hitters are batting .215 off of Spencer.

Nic McCay is expected to get the ball in game two for the Wildcats as he comes into the series with a 3.44 ERA as he’s given up 14 earned runs in 36 2/3 innings. The righty has walked 23 batters and struck out 34 on the year. Opposing batters are hitting .173 off the right-hander.

Texas is expected to hand the ball to Luke Harrison for game two and he enters the series with a 2.55 ERA, which is the lowest of the three starters. Harrison has allowed 10 earned runs in 35 1/3 innings of work. The lefty has struck out 38 and walked 16 batters on the year. Opposing hitters are batting .230 off of Harrison.

In the series finale, Ben Cleaver is expected to get the ball for Kentucky. The lefty has allowed 11 earned runs in 42 innings of work, which equates to a 2.36 ERA. Cleaver leads the staff in strikeouts with 53 while walking 13 hitters. Opposing batters are hitting .161 off of Cleaver.

Ruger Riojas is expected to round out the Longhorns rotation and he enters the weekend with a 3.23 ERA. The righty has allowed 14 earned runs in 39 innings of work. Riojas has struck out 43 and walked 10 in his three starts on the year. Opposing batters are hitting to a .204 batting average against Riojas.

With the stage now set, Kentucky and Texas will begin its three-game set on Friday, April 11, with first pitch of game one set for 6:30 p.m. ET.