Kentucky Baseball: Late home run knocks Wildcats out of SEC Baseball Tournament
By Rudy Salazar
The Kentucky Wildcats were eliminated from the SEC Baseball Tournament with a 3-1 loss to South Carolina.
The Kentucky Wildcats have been the class of the SEC at the plate. That hasn’t been the case the last two days. The Wildcats who have been averaging 7.66 run per game only managed to put one on the board the last two days. As this Kentucky baseball team is one of the top offenses in the SEC, this week’s performance at the plate is disappointing.
The Kentucky Wildcats had their chances but failed to get the big hit they needed. While the Wildcats had base runners they stranded eight total, seven in scoring position.
Kentucky scored the first run of the game. Right fielder Tristan Pompey singled to lead off and first baseman Evan White reached on a fielding error. After a sacrifice bunt from Zach Reks, to get both runners in scoring position, Luke Becker would hit a ground ball to the shortstop to score the one and only run for the Wildcats.
Justin Lewis held a no-hitter in this game until the sixth inning giving up his only hit of the game. Lewis finished the game giving up one hit while striking out six and walking one in 5 1/3.
With runners on first and third and one out Kentucky brought in star closer Logan Salow. Salow preceded to strike out Carlos Cortes and got Riley Hogan to ground out and end the inning.
Related Story: Kentucky falls to LSU in 7 innings
In the bottom of the seventh, with one swing South Carolina would score all three of their runs. Designated hitter Alex Destino walked and two batters later, right fielder Jacob Olson reached on an error. South Carolina brought in TJ Hopkins to pinch-hit who ultimately blasted a three-run home run to give South Carolina the 3-1 lead and win.
Game Notes:
- Justin Lewis was masterful in this game. While he doesn’t over power hitters his change-up and location make him unhittable when his command is on. Lewis has battled a split finger, the injury not the pitch, for most of the year yet was still able to command his change-up low and in all game.
- The Wildcats need to figure out their infield defense. There isn’t a lot they can do at this point but once again it was shaky with Becker committing three errors at third today. Ultimately, this could be what keeps Kentucky out of their first College World Series. The Wildcats are not tied for the second most errors in the SEC with Ole Miss at 63.
- Zach Thompson’s fastball is special. I would not at all be surprised to see him replace Zach Logue in the rotation next spring to give the Wildcats’ not just one of the best rotations in the SEC but all of baseball.
What’s Next
The Wildcats are now eliminated from the SEC Baseball Tournament. A tournament the Wildcats have still yet to win.
The loss to South Carolina will most likely also eliminate Kentucky from contention for a national seed with TCU and Stanford getting the final two national seeds.
According to D1Baseball.com, the Wildcats will host a regional at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Florida State is projected to be the two-seed, Indiana the three-seed and Kent State the four-seed.
Kentucky is a lock to host a regional but we will find out their opponents Monday, May 29 at 12p.m. ET on ESPN2.