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Kentucky ended the season losing four of six games to No. 23 Tennessee and No. 3 Florida but coach Nick Mingione’s team still has had a remarkable turnaround season.
Some wondered if Mingione might not survive last year when UK went 33-26 (12-18 SEC) in his sixth season and did not make the NCAA Tournament. This season Kentucky got off to a blazing start in SEC play and finished the regular season 36-17 overall and 16-14 in SEC play.
Kentucky is ranked 20th going into Tuesday’s SEC Tournament game against Alabama. But even if UK loses, the Cats are a lock to be in the NCAA Tournament as they have played one of the nation’s best schedules.
Kentucky lost 5-2 to No. 3 Florida on Saturday. Kentucky got six one-hit innings from junior pitcher Austin Strickland was nearly perfect through six one-hit innings before Florida got four runs in the seventh inning. He had a career-high seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Kentucky shortstop Grant Smith hit a home run off the right field pole for his fifth straight SEC game with a home run. He is the first Kentucky player to do that since AJ Reed in 2014.
Catcher Devin Burkes goes into the SEC tourney on a hot streak. He was 2-for-3 with a double, 2 RBI’s and a run scored Saturday and has a nine-game hitting streak (he is 15 of his last 28). He also has 17 games with two or more hits.
Outfield Jackson Gray is also on a tear with hits in 21 of his last 22 games and has been on base safely in 22 straight games.
UK-UF Baseball
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