LEXINGTON, Ky. — Righthander Sean Hjelle will start for Kentucky against Ohio on Friday, Nick Mingione said on Thursday morning.
Hjelle, the SEC Pitcher of the Year, is 9-3 with a 3.87 ERA this season. Mingione said earlier in the week that Hjelle would likely be the pitcher for Game One.
"I just felt like we've been really successful this season," Mingione said. "Sean Hjelle has thrown the opening game all season. I didn't want to change that. I just felt like that gives us the best chance to win the first game."
The strategy on who to pitch the first game varies from coach to coach. Mississippi State coach Andy Cannizaro, for example, is holding ace Konnor Pilkington until Saturday. But North Carolina coach Mike Fox decided to start ace J.B. Bukauskas in the Tarheels' first game against Davidson. Mingione's approach is similar to Fox's.
"I believe you've gotta do whatever you can to win the first game," Mingione said. "When we get to the second game, my philosophy and strategy will be to do whatever we can to win the second game. If we're fortunate enough to win the second game, we're going to do whatever we can to win the third game."
