Don't look now, but Kentucky Baseball is rolling

Just one week ago, Kentucky seemed to be teetering on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament after losing 12 of its prior 18 games. Since then, the ‘Cats are 4-1 with two wins over No. 4 Tennessee in Knoxville and a dominant 17-5 run-rule victory over No. 19 Louisville.

Kentucky’s RPI has jumped 13 spots from No. 39 to No. 26 in the span of just one week, and the ‘Cats have gone from a fringe No. 3 seed to a solidified No. 2 seed in D1Baseball’s Latest Field of 64 Projections. After being so close all season long, it seems as if Nick Mingione’s team has really figured things out over this stretch.

“We pretty much just said we were tired of being almost there,” Patrick Herrera said following Kentucky’s win over Louisville on Tuesday. “We needed to get over the hump. We made it personal and said find ways to win no matter what it takes.”

During that stretch of games in which Kentucky had lost 12 of 18 games, nine of those losses came by three or less runs. Nick Mingione’s team was *so* close to marquee series wins over No. 16 Auburn, No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 2 Texas, but just couldn’t find ways to get it done. Well, they have certainly found ways to get it done lately.

Starting with last Tuesday’s midweek win over Miami (OH), Ethan Hindle delivered with a walk-off RBI-bunt to give the ‘Cats the win. Kentucky then dropped the opening game of the Tennessee series, but bounced back to hold a dangerous Volunteer lineup to just one run on Saturday thanks to an all-timer start on the mound by Nic McCay.

Kentucky then finished off the series victory in Knoxville by exploding for five runs over the final two innings, not giving the ‘Vols a chance to even tie the game. The ‘Cats employed this same strategy against Louisville, as the ‘Cards scored three runs in the fifth inning to make it a five-run game but Kentucky responded with seven runs in the bottom of the inning to cement the run-rule victory.

Just a few weeks ago, Kentucky was faltering in these situations. Now, they’re thriving.

“I think the ‘Cats are officially hot as of now,” outfielder Carson Hansen said following Tuesday’s win. The belief, which Nick Mingione has continued to preach is extremely strong, is really flowing through the Wildcat dugout now and it is showing with some quality wins.

Taking a look at Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament resume, the ‘Cats notched their seventh Top-25 win of the season (No. 4 Georgia, No. 20 Auburn, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 2 Texas, No. 4 Tennessee x2 and No. 19 Louisville) and ninth over teams ranked in the Top-50 of the RPI Rankings (No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Texas, No. 4 Auburn, No. 11 Tennessee x2, No. 16 Ole Miss, No. 22 Louisville and No. 40 Texas A&M x2) Tuesday night. Pretty solid.

Kentucky can still add to its resume, as its final three SEC series seem to be favorable. After hosting South Carolina this weekend, the ‘Cats then get No. 14 Oklahoma at home before ending the season on the road at No. 9 Vanderbilt. Win the Carolina and Oklahoma series (and possibly the Vanderbilt series) along with taking care of business in midweeks and we could start talking about a potential third consecutive Regional at Kentucky Proud Park.