Seth Logue struggles again as Kentucky falls to EKU in midweek showing

Riding the high of completing a series victory over No. 14 Georgia this past weekend, Kentucky killed most of any momentum they had built with a shocking 6-3 loss to in-state foe Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday night. Seth Logue struggled for a third consecutive start as the bats could only muster up five hits in the contest.

Logue’s midweek struggles continue to show

Seth Logue labored through another difficult midweek performance as he tries to get back into a groove. Following three excellent starts to begin the year, capped off with a two-hit showing over seven innings against Murray State, Logue has failed to record more than four innings in an outing.

The sophomore starter struggled from the jump. He allowed a solo shot into the left-field bullpen by Logan Thomason — who ended up becoming the ultimate ‘Cat killer today — to put Kentucky in a hole three batters into the game. Troubles arose once again a couple of innings later in the third.

A double and two free bases gave Eastern Kentucky the bases loaded without recording an out. Thomason struck once again for EKU and lined a two-run double down the left-field line to give them the lead back. One sac fly later and Logue’s day was over.

“Tonight was one of those nights where he did not have the command of multiple pitches,” Head coach Nick Mingione said about Logue’s tough outing. “When Seth’s at his best he’s got command.”

In all, Logue allowed four runs on three hits, walking a pair and throwing 62 pitches in 2.2 innings. His ERA sits at 6.49 after the loss.

Mason Moore came into a dangerous situation in the third and was able to get the Wildcats out of trouble. The freshman pitcher from Morehead, KY continued his stellar collegiate start with 2.1 innings scoreless in relief.

“The development of his off-speed pitches has really helped him,” Mingione said glowingly about the freshman reliever.

After a scoreless inning from Daniel Harper, Magdiel Cotto came in for his first relief appearance in a Kentucky uniform. It was a short sample size, but it looked like almost every other Cotto appearance this season.

The South Carolina transfer was moved to the pen after posting an 8.22 ERA in five starts this season. His first outing in relief didn’t help inspire any confidence. Holding a one-run lead coming into the seventh inning, Cotto allowed three hits and two runs in one inning of work.

Bats can’t do enough to claw back in comeback effort

In a not-so-surprising turn of events, Kentucky had to once again crawl out from behind to have a chance in Tuesday’s contest. The initial deficit didn’t last long in part to the inconsistency of Isaac Milburn. The one-time Kentucky commit struggled in the early parts of the game. Following a single from Jase Felker in the second frame, Milburn walked three straight to drive in the first Wildcat run.

Kentucky grabbed one more a couple of innings later that should’ve broken the game open. They were able to load the bases with only one out with the top of the lineup coming up to the plate. Hunter Jump flew out to left-field for the sac fly, bringing in Felker from third base.

In part due to some confusion from Daniel Harris hesitating at second base on the flyout, John Thrasher was caught in no man’s land trying to tag at first and was thrown out attempting to go back, killing any momentum the ‘Cats built up.

Jake Plastiak singled in Chase Estep in the fifth for his 27th RBI of the season to cut the EKU lead down to one at the time.

The Wildcats were able to bring John Thrasher to the plate with the bases loaded in the eighth, only to see the center fielder pop up out of play to end the chance.

“They mixed their pitches really well,” Mingione said about what stumped the Wildcats on offense. “We told our team at the beginning of the day that it was going to be tough to score runs… We needed to do a good job of the strike zone but give them a lot of credit, they made some really good pitches.”

Sitting at 17-9 now on the season, the Wildcats resume their SEC schedule this weekend when No. 10 Ole Miss comes into Lexington for a series. Game one is set to start at 6:30 p.m. EST on Friday and will be on the SEC Network+.