Kentucky's pitching struggled mightily in series loss to Georgia

by:Daniel Hager•about 11 hours•

DanielHagerKSR

Kentucky-pitching-struggled-mightily-series-loss-Georgia — Kentucky Baseball infield meeting (Photo via UK Athletics)

If you went into Kentucky’s SEC opening series against No. 4 Georgia expecting to see some quality pitching, you were left extremely disappointed.

The Wildcat pitching staff, which entered the weekend with a 1.77 team ERA (second in SEC), got absolutely blitzed by Georgia in Athens over the weekend.

Over the span of three games, the Bulldogs scored 36 total runs and plated 17 in the series finale on Sunday. 17 runs were Kentucky’s most allowed in a single game since April 9, 2022 (Texas A&M).

Kentucky’s team ERA also ballooned from 1.77 to 3.50, which is eighth in the conference. There was just absolutely no resistance, as Georgia scored at least one run in a whopping 17 of its 25 total innings at the plate. Just absurd.

Georgia wasn’t just crushing the pitching, it was also being handed a large amount of free passes. Over the three-game series, Kentucky pitchers walked 23 batters and plunked 11. Definitely not a recipe for success.

Two of Kentucky’s starters (Nic McCay and Ethan Walker) had their worst starts of the season, and relievers Evan Byers, Jackson Nove and Scott Rouse had their worst relief appearances of the season.

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The starting trio of right-hander Nic McCay and left-handers Ben Cleaver and Ethan Walker entered the weekend with a 1.82 ERA in 54 1/3 combined innings. Following the weekend series however, their combined ERA is now 3.11 in 63 2/3 innings.

As for seniors Byers, Nove, Rouse and Robert Hogan, Kentucky’s most experienced relievers allowed 13 earned runs in just 7 2/3 innings (15.26 ERA). This is certainly a concerning sign as the ‘Cats enter SEC play.

If there was anything positive to take from the series, Kentucky fans got a look at some of the younger arms against SEC competition. R-Fr. right-hander Tommy Skelding, Fr. right-hander Tristan Hunter, R-So. left-hander Hayden Smith and Fr. right-hander Zak Spurrier allowed just three earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Fr. left-hander Leighton Harris warmed up, but was not employed.

Dan Roszel’s pitching staff will look to bounce back on Tuesday against Murray State and regroup before its SEC home opening series against Auburn next weekend.