Kentucky Falls in First Round of SEC Tournament to Alabama

Kentucky had to wait an extra hour due to rain on Tuesday (shocker), but that extra preparation time didn’t seem to help. The Wildcat bats came out flat as they were shut out by Alabama 4-0, sending the ‘Cats back to Lexington after just one game at the SEC Tournament in Hoover.

Alabama’s Andrew Pinckney was the star of the opening game, doing absolutely everything in his power to will Alabama to the next round. The Second Team All-SEC selection finished 2-4 on the night with a home run, a double, and 3 RBI. Along with his stellar play at the plate, Pinckney made two stellar defensive plays in right field, one of which prevented a Wildcat run.

“I told the umpire, ‘This is pretty amazing what we’ve just seen,'” Nick Mingione said after the game. “He took a run off the board by throwing us out at the plate and he hit a two-run home run. He’s +3 in my book. It was a pretty special performance that I know he’ll remember forever.”

With the loss, Kentucky’s hopes of hosting a Super Regional are all but dashed. Hosting a Regional at Kentucky Proud Park (yes, it’s in play after the KHSAA State Baseball Finals moved to Counter Clocks Field) is still in play as postseason play is expected make its way to Lexington for the first time since 2017.

Exciting Start in Hoover

After a great first inning on the mound for Dub and Alabama’s Furtado, the ‘Cats looked like they would leave a mark in the box score first. Red-hot Devin Burkes led off the bottom of the second inning with a double up the middle, which extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Jase Felker was up to bat next, and Wildcat fans experienced a little déjà vu from Saturday’s Florida game. Felker’s bunt traveled right back to Furtado on a line, catching Burkes in no man’s land. Furtado went to throw Burkes out at second, but sailed the throw over the head of Bama’s Ed Johnson. Burkes took third on the error.

With Burkes on third base, the ‘Cats had just one out in the inning. Reuben Church was at-bat and sailed a deep, high fly to right field. It was deep enough that a Burkes score should have been easy. Right? Not with Second Team All-SEC member Andrew Pinckney in right. Pinckney caught the fly-ball and gunned Burkes out at home with ease, becoming an immediate candidate for SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Night.

Here’s the play by Andrew Pinckney. Insane. pic.twitter.com/xMFN8W8VHP

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) May 23, 2023

Coach Nick Mingione tried to argue that Alabama catcher Mac Guscette blocked the plate, but his challenge was ruled unsuccessful. Take that run off the board for the ‘Cats. The game remained knotted up at zero-zero through three.

Andrew Pinckney: Mr. Do it All

After taking a run away from the ‘Cats in the second, he provided two for the Tide in the fourth. Williams plunked Tommy Seidl to begin the top of the fourth, putting a runner on for the aforementioned Pinckney. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Pinckney launched a two-run home run over the right field fence to give the Tide a 2-0 lead.

As if he hadn’t already had a stellar performance, Pinckney added to his highlight reel in the bottom of the inning. On a 1-0 count, Devin Burkes squealed a foul ball down the first base line. Pinckney charged hard and made a phenomenal sliding grab, earning Alabama’s second out of the inning. Just four innings in and the redshirt junior had already himself a game.

The ‘Cats go down in order in the fourth.

E4: #8 Kentucky 0 / #9 Alabama 2 ⚾️

pic.twitter.com/pjA6GLoT43

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) May 23, 2023

Pinckney continued to contribute for the Tide in the top of the sixth inning. After Tommy Seidl led off the inning with a walk, Drew Williamson doubled to set the gamebreaker Pinckney up nicely. Pinckney hit a sharp grounder to Jase Felker at third, which Felker bobbled. Sensing Pinckney would beat the throw, Felker came up firing. The throw was in the dirt, skipping off the glove of Hunter Gilliam to the dugout fence. A run scored while Pinckney nabbed second. Mason Moore entered for Darren Williams and stopped the bleeding, keeping the Kentucky deficit at three midway through six.

Crimson Tide Put It Away in the Eighth

Mason Moore kept ‘Bama at bay until the eighth, when the Alabama offense was once again sparked by Pinckney. Moore kicked off the inning with back-to-back outs before giving up a double down the third base line to Andrew Pinckney, his second XBH of the night. Moore then walked Colby Shelton before getting Ed Johnson in a full count. With two outs and two strikes on the grad student, Johnson ripped an RBI-single up the middle to score Pinckney from second. The Tide took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

Alton Davis II entered in the bottom of the eighth and finished things off for the Tide. Nolan McCarthy gave all of BBN a dose of hope with a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth, until Reuben Church grounded into a game-ending double play. Even in the loss, Coach Mingione’s spirits remained high, as he reiterated his case for Kentucky to host a Regional in Lexington.

When asked if he still believes Kentucky should be awarded a Regional, Minge simply responded, “I am, yes. I’m very confident.” We’ll find out Monday at Noon ET on the NCAA Tournament Selection Show (ESPN). That’s all from Hoover, as the ‘Cats are one-and-done in the SEC Tournament (again).