Triple Play: Good times continue for Kentucky baseball

For the second time in 2023, the Kentucky baseball team got the brooms out in an SEC series. The Bat Cats made quick work of No. 25 Missouri winning all three games by a cumulative score of 25-3. That is getting the job done.

The offense continues to produce, but the story of the weekend was some strong pitching to go with good defense. You’re simply going to win a lot of baseball games in the SEC when you allow only three runs over a series.

Kentucky has another big week upcoming with a midweek home game on Tuesday before hitting the road for a very winnable road series. The good times could continue to roll for Nick Mingione’s club.

Pitching flexes its muscles at Kentucky Proud Park

Kentucky entered last week ranking No. 9 overall in ERA and No. 6 overall in hits allowed per nine innings. Those pitching numbers for Dan Roszel’s staff only improved after a great performance over the weekend.

Starters Darren Williams, Tyler Bosma, and Zack Lee combined to eat 15.1 innings allowing just 10 hits and recording 14 strikeouts. The trio allowed three earned runs throughout the series against Missouri with Bosma having a dominant outing on Saturday going six innings with six strikeouts.

The bullpen was more impressive.

The Wildcats got 12.1 innings from seven relief pitchers over the weekend and did not give up a single run. Mason Moore recorded the win out of the pen on Saturday working two innings despite getting in some jams due to four free passes (3 walks, 1 hit by pitch). Even when closer Ryan Hagenow couldn’t get the job done on Sunday, Seth Chavez came in and recorded the last out in a 3-1 win. Over those 12.1 innings, the bullpen only allowed five total hits.

There were free pass issues (13 walks) over the weekend, but Kentucky’s pitching mostly had full control in another SEC series win. Performances like this are why this team’s ceiling has been raised. Kentucky has quality depth in the bullpen and three starting pitchers that throw strikes and can eat innings. That will go a long way in college baseball.

Balanced offense produces consistent results

On offense, Kentucky was able to plate 35 runs in four games this week and that was due to production throughout the lineup. Against Missouri at Kentucky Proud Park, all of UK’s regular starters recorded at least three hits and provided ample scoring opportunities.

Longwood transfer Hunter Gilliam led the way batting .500 with six hits against the Tigers for a team-high six RBI in the weekend series to go along with his sixth home run of the season. The veteran even flashed some leather on Sunday.

HOLY DEFENSE!@CaptGIlliam evokes shades of Evan White, saves a pair of runs with diving play!#SCTop10 @NCAABaseball @d1baseball @SECbaseball pic.twitter.com/G6Q2ju15Dc

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) April 2, 2023

Devin Burkes finished with four hits and drew five walks. Ryan Waldschmidt produced six RBI on just two hits. Grant Smith hit his third home run of the season. Emilien Pitre had a pair of doubles and is one of four everyday starters with an OPS over 1.000.

There were questions about the offense’s potential entering the season, but this group just produced another strong outing against power conference competition. No one is going to call this a dynamite lineup, but there appears to be strength in numbers as the bottom of the lineup is a real threat to cause some damage.

Another great SEC opportunity

After facing Dayton on Tuesday, Kentucky will hit the road to take on Georgia in a three-game series beginning on Friday evening. The Bulldogs are having a rough year.

Scott Stricklin’s team is now 1-8 in SEC play after being swept by Vanderbilt over the weekend. The Bulldogs finished last week 0-4 with a 12-2 home loss to Georgia Southern. South Carolina also swept the Bulldogs in SEC play.

This presents a great opportunity for the Bat Cats. Kentucky needs to gobble up as many wins as possible because the schedule is very backloaded.

Starting next week, Kentucky has two midweek games remaining with top-20 Louisville to go along with road series against No. 1 LSU (April 13-15), No. 4 Vanderbilt (April 28-30), and No. 11 Tennessee (May 13-15). Kentucky has home series with No. 6 South Carolina (May 5-7) and No. 3 Florida (May 18-20).

The Bat Cats are now in the top 10 but have benefitted from a soft schedule to start league play. Kentucky needs to continue to take advantage of the early conference slate by getting a road series win in Athens this weekend.