Kentucky Falls to Florida 5-2 in Final Game of Regular Season
The first two games of the weekend series didn’t shy away from offense. Saturday’s game, however, was a total 180, as both teams were scoreless heading into the seventh inning. A four-run Florida seventh inning, which was capped off by a pinch-hit home run from Dale Thomas, propelled them to a 5-2 win and the weekend series victory.
Although they dropped their final conference series of the season, the ‘Cats have all but wrapped up hosting a Regional at Kentucky Proud Park. Their chances of hosting a Super Regional are now extremely slim (barring a deep run in Hoover, AL), but postseason play should be making its way to KPP for the first time in the stadium’s history.
Devin Burkes capped off an impressive end to his regular season, going 2-4 with two doubles in this one. Burkes struggled through most of SEC play but went 16-33 (.485) from the plate over his final nine games of the season, which included a nine-game hitting streak. When you’re heading into postseason play, it’s essential to look at the bright side. Onto Hoover it is.
Pitcher’s Duel
Due to Tyler Bosma’s recent struggles, the Saturday starter was listed as TBD heading into the weekend series. RHP Austin Strickland stepped up to make the Saturday start, just the fourth of his entire career.
The thought was that head coach Mingione would throw the entire bullpen in this one, but Stricky carried the ‘Cats over his 6.2 innings pitched. Strickland was extremely impressive in his time on the mound, allowing just three hits while striking out seven. He didn’t allow any runs until the seventh inning when the Gators scored two runs thanks to a BT Riopelle sacrifice fly and a Luke Heyman RBI single.
“I was super impressed,” Mingione said postgame about Strickland. “I just hate that we didn’t finish it for him.”
Evan Byers took over for Strickland with two outs in the inning, looking to keep the damage at a minimum. Florida’s Dale Thomas pinch-hit for Colby Halter, looking to extend the inning. Thomas entered Saturday’s game batting just .233 with no home runs hit on the season. On a 1-2 count, Thomas belted a 396-foot two-run home run over the right field wall, driving in Florida runs. Suddenly, the ‘Cats trailed 4-0.
College baseball’s leader in home runs (28) Jac Caglianone got the Saturday start for the Gators. Caglianone pitched his best conference game of the season, giving up just four hits and no runs in seven innings of work. He struck out eight batters while walking just three. Saturday’s start against Kentucky was his longest of the season, falling just one strikeout shy of tying his season high.
Nails.
Grant Smith: Surging Slugger
As of May 12th, Grant Smith had hit just three home runs on the season. Smith entered Saturday’s matchup against the Gators having homered in four consecutive games, just the first Wildcat to do so since Riley Mahan in 2017.
With the ‘Cats trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the eighth, Grant hit a solo shot off of the right field foul pole, extending his home run streak to five games. With the homer, Grant became the first Wildcat to homer in five consecutive SEC games since UK Hall of Famer AJ Reed did so in 2014. Great company to be in.
The home run didn’t come without controversy, however, as it was originally called a foul ball. Coach Minge incited a review, and it was overturned after four minutes of deliberation. When asked about Grant’s late-season power surge, a superstitious coach Mingione grinned and responded, “Keep doing it. Keep doing it, and let’s not talk about it.”
‘Cats Drop Final Game of Regular Season
After having their lead cut to just three heading into the ninth, a solo home run from Luke Heyman with two outs in the inning gave Florida their insurance run back.
The red-hot Devin Burkes kept Kentucky’s hopes alive in the bottom of the inning with a ground-rule double, eventually scoring on a Reuben Church sacrifice fly to right field. Florida closer Brandon Neely forced a Jase Felker ground-out to end the game, giving the Gators 42 regular season wins for just the second time in program history.
Kentucky will now sit back and await their seeding fate for next week’s SEC Tournament. All of Big Blue Nation should know the Wildcats’ opponent and Tuesday game time at the conclusion of Saturday’s conference play.
The Wildcats finish the regular season at 36-17 (16-14). Their .533 conference winning percentage is their best since 2017. Entering this season, many Kentucky fans were optimistic about Coach Nick Mingione’s future. But Mingione responded well this season, bringing Lexington postseason play for the first time in six years. After being picked to finish sixth in the SEC East, the ‘Cats finish tied with Tennessee for fourth in the East.
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