The Kentucky baseball team exited the SEC Tournament on Friday with a 3-1 loss to South Carolina. And while such a loss will mark the end of the season for most of the teams in the country, that’s far from the case for the 2017 Wildcats.

 

Kentucky (39-20) finished second in the SEC Eastern Division, has been ranked in the nation’s top 10 for most of the season and has an RPI that could position the Wildcats nicely for the postseason. Despite the disappointment of not winning the SEC Tournament, Kentucky will now focus on the NCAA Tournament.

 

Only once in school history has Kentucky hosted an NCAA Tournament Regional. The Wildcats have, for all intents and purposes, locked up hosting a regional already. The only lingering question is whether Kentucky will be designated as one of the nation’s top eight seeds. If they are, the Wildcats would be in a position to host the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in school history, providing they can win their regional at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

 

Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione has talked many times this season about doing things that have never been done before in this program. Hosting a regional for just the second time could put Kentucky in position to win a regional for the first time in school history. And if the Wildcats can do that, they would be two wins from the school’s first trip to Omaha for the College World Series.

 

The Wildcats have the type of team that sets up well for a regional. SEC Pitcher of the Year Sean Hjelle heads a rotation that should keep Kentucky in each and every game. Sophomore Justin Lewis held South Carolina to just one hit before leaving Friday’s game, while freshman Zack Thompson continues to show plenty of potential. And closer Logan Salow has been as good as anyone in the country at finishing games this season.

 

And the Wildcats’ offense, which has been the best in the SEC all season, figures to pack enough punch to keep opponents on their collective toes. With junior shortstop Riley Mahan, sophomore outfielder Tristan Pompey and junior first baseman Evan White in the lineup, opposing pitchers will need to be at their best, especially playing at Cliff Hagan Stadium, where Kentucky is 27-5 on the season.

 

For now, it’s a waiting game for Kentucky. The NCAA will announce the 16 regional host sites on Sunday, with the announcement of the national seeds, as well as the full field, on Monday.

 

Cats Turn Focus to NCAA Tournament | UK Wildcats News

National seed gone IMO. Bad tourney for UK

Kentucky only gave up 2 hits today, but committed 3 errors. One of the errors was in the 7th which allowed the second base runner, the first coming on a walk, for the 2nd hit to kill the Cats, a 3 run homer.