Where Kentucky Baseball stands among other SEC teams

Kentucky has just one non-conference game remaining before beginning SEC play on March 14 on the road at No. 4 Georgia. Here’s a look at where the ‘Cats fare among all other SEC teams with conference play beginning this week.

The ‘Cats are one of 14 SEC teams that have already crossed the double-digit wins mark this season, as they are 12-2 with losses to Lipscomb and Wofford. The lone teams yet to cross that mark are Missouri (8-8) and Men’s College World Series runner-up Texas A&M (9-6), who is somehow ranked No. 19 in D1Baseball’s Top 25 Rankings.

Standings

1. No. 2 Tennessee (16-0)
2. No. 4 Georgia (18-1)
3. No. 17 Alabama (16-1)
4. No. 1 LSU (16-1)
5. No. 3 Arkansas (15-1)
6. No. 12 Oklahoma (14-1)
7. No. 13 Ole Miss (14-1)
8. No. 11 Texas (13-1)
9. No. 7 Florida (15-2)
10. Kentucky (12-2)
11. South Carolina (14-3)
12. No. 25 Auburn (13-3)
13. No. 16 Vanderbilt (13-3)
14. Mississippi State (11-4)
15. No. 19 Texas A&M (9-6)
16. Missouri (8-8)

Kentucky however is tied with Texas for playing the least amount of games this season with just 14. They have had two games canceled due to rain (Lipscomb and Eastern Kentucky), which has prompted the scheduling of the Northern Illinois game on March 11.

When it comes to how teams are winning games however, Kentucky is among the upper echelon of the SEC. Through 14 games, the Wildcats sport a +89 run margin, which is good for seventh in the SEC. Interesting to note however that Kentucky is just one of two teams in the conference (Georgia) that has not played a team from the Big 12 or the ACC.

It’s been all mid-majors for the ‘Cats and Bulldogs.

Run Margin Leaders

1. No. 2 Tennessee: +164
2. No. 17 Alabama: +124
3. No. 1 LSU: +113
4. No. 4 Georgia: +101
5. No. 3 Arkansas: +95
6. No. 7 Florida: +95
7. Kentucky: +89
8. Mississippi State: +79
9. No. 16 Vanderbilt: +74
10. No. 25 Auburn: +71
11. South Carolina: +67
12. No. 13 Ole Miss: +65
13. No. 11 Texas: +63
14. No. 12 Oklahoma: +61
15. No. 19 Texas A&M: +47
16. Missouri: +13

Kentucky was seventh in the SEC last season in team ERA (5.10), but it’s been even stronger this season through 14 games. The ‘Cats are second to only Tennessee in the conference with a 1.88 team ERA. Senior right-handers Nic McCay (0.42 ERA) and Scott Rouse (0.60) are two of only five arms in the entire conference with less than a 1.00 ERA in at least 15 innings of work.

Sophomore left-hander Ben Cleaver is making his mark on the conference as well, as his 2.53 ERA is second best by a sophomore in the entire SEC. Only LSU left-hander Kade Anderson is ahead of him with a 2.08 ERA.

SEC Pitching Leaders

1. LHP Ryan Prager (Texas A&M): 0.39 ERA in 23 1/3 innings
2. RHP Nic McCay (Kentucky): 0.42 ERA in 21 1/3 innings
3. LHP Liam Doyle (Tennessee): 0.44 ERA in 20 1/3 innings
4. RHP Scott Rouse (Kentucky): 0.60 ERA in 15 innings
5. LHP Jared Spencer (Texas): 0.86 ERA in 21 innings

Kentucky’s low team ERA is even more impressive when you take into account that it ranks second to last in the conference in team strikeouts (133). Half of this boils down to having played just 14 games, but it also shows that the Wildcat pitching staff is forcing outs in other ways.

On the offensive side of the ball, the ‘Cats are hitting for just a .295 team batting average (12th in SEC) but senior left fielder Cole Hage leads the entire conference with a .478 batting average. The Wildcats actually have three players in the top 16, as Hage is first, senior third baseman Patrick Herrera ranks ninth with a .375 average, and senior outfielder Shaun Montoya ranks 16th with a .306 average.

SEC Batting Leaders

1. LF Cole Hage (Kentucky): .478 BA
2. 1B Ryland Zaborowski (Georgia): .447 BA
3. 1B Cooper McMurray (Auburn): .417 BA
4. 1B Will Hodo (Alabama): .417 BA
5. DH Ryan Moerman (Ole MIss): .407 BA
6. LF Kade Snell (Alabama): .403 BA
7. LF Aaron Downs (Mississippi State): .400 BA
8. SS Deric Fabian (Auburn): .383 BA
9. 3B Patrick Herrera (Kentucky): .375 BA
10. 3B Wyatt Henseler (Texas A&M): .352 BA
11. CF Nolan McCarthy (Georgia): .333 BA
12. CF Hunter Ensley (Tennessee): .333 BA
13. CF Bryce Chance (Mississippi State): .328 BA
14. 3B Slate Alford (Georgia): .315 BA
15. RF Bryce Fowler (Alabama): .309 BA
16. OF Shaun Montoya (Kentucky): .306 BA

The competition hasn’t been great, but Kentucky is definitely stacking up to teams ranked high in D1Baseball’s Top 25 Rankings. We’ll see how good the ‘Cats really are when they begin SEC play on Friday at No. 4 Georgia.