Kirn's main difference from Kartsonas is the physical makeup, as he is a left-handed pitcher compared to Kartsonas, who throws from a right-handed slot.
The important thing to understand while doing this is winning the first game of the regional is the most important game to win when trying to win the region outright. That makes WVU's game against Kentucky the most important game of the weekend.
On the season, Kentucky's offensive numbers are not prolific. They're not a team that is going to put on a power show, but rather a team that is going to find their way on base and find ways to score runs.
The Wildcats' most recent lineup has three left-handed hitters and a switch-hitter in Tyler Bell. Bell is the most dangerous bat in the UK lineup, leading them in runs batted in and is third on the team in batting average. Right behind him is Luke Lawrence, a left-handed bat, who is top four on the team in both RBIs and batting average as well.
The other two left-handed hitters, each have 21 RBIs or fewer, and they also are hitting .252 or worse on the season.
Looking at all Kentucky hitters who have at least 75 at-bats on the season, there are certain trends across the lineup.
The Wildcats' BABIP is at .328, while their strikeout percentage is roughly 19 percent. This means 19 percent of their at-bats end in strikeouts, and out of all balls put in play, 33 percent of them end in a hit.
Kentucky also is putting the ball on the ground less often than Clemson. The Wildcats are hitting groundballs 41.95 percent of the time, while they are hitting fly balls 39.9 percent of the time. Out of those fly balls, 9.1 percent end up being hit for a home run.
Out of the four teams in the regional, Kentucky ranks last in batting average, home runs, runs scored, and walks. They rank first in triples and stolen bases.
Out of Kentucky's hitters, the ones who strikeout the most are Carson Hansen, Hudson Brown, and Tyler Bell. Hansen also hits a fly ball 50 percent of the time, with 23.1 percent of those fly balls resulting in a home run.
Two right-handed batters in Cole Hage and Devin Burkes are dangerous at the plate. Hage is first on the team in home runs, while Burkes has the fifth-most RBIs on the team this season. Both have the majority of their balls hit put in play, with 17.6 percent of Hage's fly balls resulting in a home run. That ranks second-most on the Wildcats.
It's also important to note the hitter-friendly ballpark that is Doug Kingsmore Stadium. In their home games this season, the Tigers hit 1.06 home runs per game, while in their road games, they hit .82 home runs per game. While there is not much difference, the Tigers have hit home runs more often while at home this season, showing a possible hitter-friendly park.
This would be more important for a guy like Kirn who allows more fly balls in a game, compared to Kartsonas.