Optimism fading for Kentucky Baseball following series loss to Mizzou

Sans Bill Murray, it’s starting to feel like groundhog day *again* watching the Bat ‘Cats stumble their way through another year in the SEC.

Postseason becoming a pipe dream

This past weekend’s matchup with Missouri was about as “must-win” as it possibly gets. Lining up with the fellow shareholder of the basement of the SEC over the past few years should’ve sparked Kentucky and allowed them to build momentum going into the rest of their gauntlet schedule. Instead, the Tigers took two out of three in Columbia, dominating the ‘Cats at times.

Kentucky has won one single series within the conference in 2022 when they defeated a top-15 Georgia team at the end of March. That’s about when any sense of hope or optimism started fleeting. Since then Kentucky has lost three straight series, four out of their last seven games, and suffered a midweek defeat to Eastern Kentucky.

With a 5-10 record in the SEC, the ‘Cats are in a three-way tie for bragging rights of who gets to be the worst team in the conference. The other two teams they’re tied with happened to already beat Kentucky in a series this season, so the ‘Cats get the de facto title for worst in the SEC so far.

Even after taking their swing at the transfer portal this past offseason, Kentucky is on pace to have an even worse conference record than 2021, putting them in prime position to miss the postseason for a fifth straight season. A veteran-laden team was supposed to change all that. They were supposed to bring at least a smidge of excitement back to Kentucky Proud Park. Instead, they seem to be in a total tailspin with little to no direction on where the program is heading.

And oh yeah, it doesn’t get any easier from here.

Brutal schedule on deck for Kentucky

Kentucky’s chance to rebound? Just a trip upstate to take on a Louisville team who’s seeing a bit more success than the ‘Cats.

That’s just a one-game spot against an out-of-conference foe. When can Kentucky get back on track in Lexington and save their season? Oh… Vanderbilt is in town next weekend? Yikes…

If they haven’t been already, the schedule the rest of the way is sure to humble the Wildcats. They’ve already lost to the other two worst teams in the SEC and haven’t many teams considered as postseason contenders. That all changes though as they play Vandy, Florida and Tennessee over the next few weeks. If things keep going as is, they’ll be lucky to scratch out two wins over that span.

One series doesn’t change everything obviously, but it kind of does in some weird way. This past weekend in Missouri was that series for the Wildcats. It might’ve been their last chance to make up some significant ground in the conference and build a resume.

Unless they go on some miraculous heater that sees them beating the top teams in the SEC more often than not, it seems like we’re well on our way to not having any postseason baseball in Lexington once again.

Better go get your Legends tickets ready.