Kentucky claims No. 2 in D1Baseball Top 25 Rankings

Kentucky-claims-No2-D1Baseball-Top25-Rankings — Photo via UK Athletics

Following its first series victory over Florida since 2016, Kentucky climbed to No. 2 in the latest D1Baseball Top 25 Rankings. It is their highest ranking of the season.

Kentucky blew two ninth inning leads in its series against Florida, but held off the Gators in extra innings in both games. Sitting at just 26-25 (11-16), Florida is now in serious danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.

With just three games remaining in the regular season, Kentucky is in sole possession of first place in the SEC. The Cats and Volunteers were tied heading into Sunday, but Kentucky pulled off the 7-5 win in 10 innings while Tennessee was blanked 3-0 by Vanderbilt in the series finale.

The full SEC standings as of Monday are listed below:

1. No. 2 Kentucky	20-7
T2. No. 1 Tennessee	19-8
T2. No. 3 Arkansas	19-8
4. No. 5 Texas A&M	17-10
5. No. 9 Georgia	15-11
6. No. 16 Mississippi State	15-12
7. No. 23 South Carolina	13-13
T8. Alabama	12-15
T8. Vanderbilt	12-15
T10. Florida	11-16
T10. Ole Miss	11-16
12. LSU	10-17
13. Missouri	8-19
14. Auburn	6-21

By taking two of three in Gainesville, the Cats also clinched a first round bye in the impending SEC Tournament in Hoover. Where Kentucky was a No. 8 seed last season and lost in the first game to Alabama, the Cats are guaranteed at least two games this season, although they’ve already all but wrapped up a top-eight national seed.

No. 2 Kentucky is one of seven ranked SEC teams this week. The Cats are joined by No. 1 Tennessee, No. 3 Arkansas, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 9 Georgia, No. 16 Mississippi State, and No. 24 South Carolina.

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Georgia jumped six spots from No. 15 to No. 9 after sweeping No. 24 South Carolina in Columbia, setting itself up to potentially be a top-eight national seed.

The Bat Cats will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Wright State at Kentucky Proud Park in their final midweek game of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.

Kentucky rounds out the regular season this weekend against Vanderbilt at home. If the Cats can win at least two of three over the Commodores, Kentucky can clinch at least a share of their second ever SEC Regular Season Championship. A sweep would clinch the outright crown.