SEC Baseball Series Preview/Prediction: Kentucky at Florida

Florida-Kentucky

Kentucky travels to Florida for a 3-game, Thursday-Saturday SEC baseball series. 14Powers.com SEC Baseball previews this series and predicts the series winner.

By 14Powers SEC Baseball Staff

Ryan Ritter of Kentucky
Ryan Ritter of Kentucky
Florida Ballpark (7,000)
Florida Ballpark (7,000)
Jud Fabian of Florida
Jud Fabian of Florida

Series Schedule April 29-1 May

  Day Start Time (ET) TV Tickets
Game 1 Friday 6:30 PM SEC Network+ Tickets
Game 2 Saturday 6:00 PM SEC Network+ Tickets
Game 3 Sunday 12:00 PM SEC Network Tickets

Team Statistical Comparisons

Hitting

  BA OB% R H 2B 3B HR SF BB Bunts SB
Kentucky 0.282 0.380 277 387 79 9 38 19 174 15 47
Florida 0.272 0.360 258 369 54 7 73 17 166 13 33

Pitching & Fielding

  ERA K/9 OBA HA/9 HB SWR WHIP HR BB/9 DP F%
Kentucky 5.23 10.7 0.266 9.49 48 2.38 1.56 35 4.51 25 0.973
Florida 4.60 9.1 0.241 8.14 56 2.49 1.31 40 3.67 29 0.978

Statistical Leaders

Kentucky Batting Leaders

Player Team AVG OBP H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SB
Chase Estep Kentucky 0.325 0.440 50 11 1 11 35 29 12
Daniel Harris IV Kentucky 0.315 0.423 41 6 2 2 21 16 6
Hunter Jump Kentucky 0.306 0.382 49 5 0 2 21 17 4
Ryan Ritter Kentucky 0.281 0.357 45 7 2 5 27 12 10
Jacob Plastiak Kentucky 0.272 0.374 43 9 2 10 38 19 2
John Thrasher Kentucky 0.271 0.392 29 7 1 0 16 16 7
Adam Fogel Kentucky 0.250 0.325 37 10 0 2 20 13 1
Alonzo Rubalcaba Kentucky 0.239 0.333 28 6 1 3 28 15 1

Kentucky Pitching Leaders

Player Team W L ERA APP GS SV IP H R ER BB SO OBA

Florida Batting Leaders

Player Team AVG OBP H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SB
Sterlin Thompson Florida 0.333 0.398 53 7 2 7 28 17 5
Wyatt Langford Florida 0.333 0.401 51 4 2 13 42 16 5
BT Riopelle Florida 0.292 0.361 38 2 1 12 34 10 4
Jud Fabian Florida 0.275 0.447 39 6 1 16 37 40 4
Josh Rivera Florida 0.271 0.347 36 6 0 5 18 15 4
Colby Halter Florida 0.252 0.356 40 9 0 5 14 20 6
Kendrick Calilao Florida 0.242 0.319 30 7 0 3 18 12 0
Deric Fabian Florida 0.222 0.329 28 3 0 4 20 19 3

Florida Pitching Leaders

Player Team W L ERA APP GS SV IP H R ER BB SO OBA
Hunter Barco Florida 5 2 2.50 9 9 0 50.1 34 14 14 11 69 0.187
Nick Ficarrotta Florida 3 0 4.04 21 0 3 42.1 34 23 19 10 42 0.224
Brandon Sproat Florida 4 4 4.86 11 10 0 50.0 53 28 27 22 49 0.275

Massey College Baseball Ranking Composite

Kentucky:

66

Florida:

29

Kentucky Roster

NO. Name Pos. HT WT Class City ST
28 Oraj Anu OF 6′-1″ 240 Gr. Orlando FL
35 Tyler Bosma LHP 6′-6″ 230 Gr. Holland MI
7 Devin Burkes C 6′-3″ 210 R-Fr. Bradenton FL
41 Evan Byers LHP 5′-11″ 180 R-Fr. Nicholasville KY
6 Reuben Church INF 6′-2″ 245 So. Maryville TN
23 Magdiel Cotto LHP 6′-4″ 245 So. Fort Mill SC
30 Michael Dallas INF 6′-1″ 185 Fr. Arlington TN
31 Alex Degen RHP 6′-8″ 205 Sr. Readington Township NJ
12 Chase Estep INF 6′-0″ 195 Jr. Corbin KY
2 Jase Felker INF 6′-2″ 180 Jr. Princeton KY
55 Adam Fogel OF 6′-5″ 220 Gr. Palos Verdes Estates CA
11 Colby Frieda RHP 6′-3″ 220 Fr. St. Johns FL
44 Reed Gannon LHP 6′-3″ 195 Fr. Minooka IL
14 Tyler Guilfoil RHP 6′-4″ 215 Jr. Lexington KY
24 Ryan Hagenow RHP 6′-5″ 215 So. Knoxville TN
34 Sean Harney RHP 6′-0″ 190 Gr. Natick MA
54 Daniel Harper RHP 6′-4″ 225 Gr. Fairway KS
1 Daniel Harris IV INF 6′-0″ 195 Gr. Stone Moutain GA
50 Mason Hazelwood LHP 6′-5″ 235 Gr. Salvisa KY
46 Christian Howe RHP 6′-4″ 190 Fr. Danville KY
21 Wyatt Hudepohl RHP 6′-4″ 220 So. Mason OH
10 Hunter Jump OF 5′-11″ 210 Gr. Aliso Viejo CA
42 Tanner Kim INF/OF 6′-0″ 190 Fr. Knoxville TN
48 Zack Lee RHP 6′-4″ 200 Jr. Effingham IL
8 Kirk Liebert OF/C 6′-0″ 195 Sr. Owensboro KY
25 Seth Logue RHP 6′-1″ 180 So. Mason OH
19 Nolan McCarthy UTIL 6′-0″ 200 R-Fr. Kalamazoo MI
13 James McCoy INF 6′-4″ 210 Fr. Dunwoody GA
20 Mason Moore RHP 6′-4″ 205 Fr. Morehead KY
43 Jackson Nove LHP 6′-5″ 215 Fr. Fairfax Iowa
4 Émilien Pitre INF 5′-11″ 175 Fr. Repentigny QC
26 Jacob Plastiak INF 6′-3″ 225 Sr. Chicago IL
47 Ryan Ritter INF 6′-2″ 200 Jr. Tinley Park IL
9 Alonzo Rubalcaba C 6′-0″ 210 Sr. Fairfield CA
33 Travis Smith RHP 6′-4″ 215 Fr. Walton KY
49 Austin Strickland RHP 6′-2″ 205 So. Winchester OH
16 Cole Stupp RHP 6′-4″ 205 Jr. Milton GA
22 John Thrasher OF 6′-2″ 185 Gr. Ridgefield CT
5 Darren Williams RHP 6′-6″ 230 Gr. Maysville KY

Florida Roster

NO. Name Pos. HT WT Class City ST
55 Philip Abner LHP 6′-1″ 220 Fr. Charlotte NC
34 Kris Armstrong INF 6′-4″ 230 Jr.* Jupiter FL
12 Hunter Barco LHP 6′-4″ 210 So.* Jacksonville FL
14 Jac Caglianone LHP/1B 6′-5″ 210 Fr. Tampa FL
6 Kendrick Calilao 1B/OF 6′-1″ 210 Jr. Kissimmee FL
18 Pierce Coppola LHP 6′-8″ 215 Fr. Verona NJ
33 Jorge De Goti INF 6′-1″ 190 Fr. Miami FL
2 Ty Evans OF 6′-2″ 205 Fr. Auburndale FL
23 Deric Fabian INF 6′-4″ 185 Fr. Ocala FL
4 Jud Fabian OF 6′-2″ 195 Jr.* Ocala FL
46 Nick Ficarrotta RHP 6′-3″ 180 RS Fr.* FL
49 Carsten Finnvold LHP 6′-1″ 180 Fr. Boca Ratan FL
9 Mac Guscette C 6′-0″ 195 So. Nokomis FL
5 Colby Halter INF 6′-1″ 205 So. Jacksonville FL
28 Karl Hartman RHP 6′-4″ 215 Fr. Merritt Island FL
27 Fisher Jameson RHP 6′-5″ 225 Fr. Lake Worth FL
36 Wyatt Langford C/1B 6′-1″ 225 So.. Trenton FL
16 Rene Lastres C 6′-3″ 205 Fr. Hialeah Gardens FL
44 Timmy Manning LHP 6′-2″ 195 So. Pompano Beach FL
25 Hunter McMullen RHP 6′-2″ 205 RS Jr.* Ocala FL
3 Garrett Milchin RHP 6′-5″ 215 Gr.* Windermere FL
22 Brandon Neely RHP 6′-3″ 205 Fr. Seville FL
10 Tyler Nesbitt RHP 6′-3″ 195 RS Fr.* LaBelle FL
20 Nick Pogue RHP 6′-5″ 235 RS So. Melbourne FL
43 Matthew Prevesk OF 6′-3″ 205 RS Fr. Apopka FL
41 Blake Purnell RHP 6′-3″ 210 RS Boynton Beach FL
15 BT Riopelle C 6′-0″ 205 Jr.* Marietta GA
24 Josh Rivera INF 6′-2″ 210 So.* Avon Park FL
11 Michael Robertson OF 6′-1″ 170 Fr. Venice FL
1 Corey Robinson OF 5′-11″ 175 Fr. Port Orange FL
13 Ryan Slater RHP 6′-3″ 185 RS Fr. Palm Harbor FL
21 Sam Sloan RHP 6′-3″ 190 Fr. Bartow FL
8 Brandon Sproat RHP 6′-3″ 210 So.* Pace FL
32 Tucker Talbott OF 6′-2″ 195 RS Fr. Atlantic Beach FL
26 Sterlin Thompson OF/INF 6′-4″ 200 So. Ocala FL
50 Anthony Ursitti RHP 6′-4″ 205 Fr. Fort Myers FL

Kentucky Schedule/Results

DATE TIME GUEST
RUNS
HOME
RUNS
TV/NOTES
18-Feb 4:00 PM ET Kentucky 10 J’Ville St 8 ESPN+
19-Feb 4:00 PM ET Kentucky 6 J’Ville St 2 ESPN+
20-Feb 2:00 PM ET Kentucky 15 J’Ville St 1 ESPN+
22-Feb 4:00 PM ET SE Missouri St PPD Kentucky PPD SEC Network +
25-Feb 4:00 PM ET W Michigan 3 Kentucky 14 SEC Network+
26-Feb 1:00 PM ET W Michigan 12 Kentucky 13 SEC Network+
27-Feb 1:00 PM ET W Michigan 5 Kentucky 16 SEC Network+
1-Mar 4:00 PM ET Western KY 7 Kentucky 5 SEC Network+
2-Mar 4:00 PM ET Evansville 4 Kentucky 5 SEC Network+
4-Mar 4:00 PM ET TCU 11 Kentucky 13 SEC Network+
5-Mar 1:00 PM ET TCU 12 Kentucky 8 SEC Network+
6-Mar 1:00 PM ET TCU PPD Kentucky PPD SEC Network+
8-Mar 4:00 PM ET Murray State 1 Kentucky 9 SEC Network+
9-Mar 4:00 PM ET Ohio 9 Kentucky 8 SEC Network+
11-Mar 4:00 PM ET High Point 3 Kentucky 14 SEC Network+
11-Mar 4:00 PM ET High Point 5 Kentucky 9 SEC Network+
12-Mar 1:00 PM ET High Point Kentucky 11 SEC Network+
13-Mar 1:00 PM ET High Point 3 Kentucky 4 SEC Network+
15-Mar 5:00 PM ET Kentucky 7 Indiana 20
18-Mar 7:30 PM ET Kentucky 2 Arkansas 6 SEC Network+
19-Mar 7:30 PM ET Kentucky 9 Arkansas 3 SEC Network+
20-Mar 3:00 PM ET Kentucky 1 Arkansas 3 SEC Network+
22-Mar 6:30 PM ET Morehead State 5 Kentucky 7 SEC Network+
25-Mar TBA Georgia 4 Kentucky 2 SEC Network+
26-Mar TBA Georgia 8 Kentucky 10 SEC Network+
27-Mar 12:00 PM ET Georgia 5 Kentucky 18 SEC Network
29-Mar 6:30 PM ET E Kentucky 6 Kentucky 3 SEC Network+
1-Apr TBA Ole Miss 2 Kentucky 1 SEC Network+
2-Apr TBA Ole Miss 2 Kentucky 9 SEC Network+
3-Apr 1:00 PM ET Ole Miss 10 Kentucky 1 SEC Network+
5-Apr 6:30 PM ET Louisville PPD Kentucky PPD SEC Network+
7-Apr 8:00 PM ET Kentucky 2 Texas A&M 3 ESPNU
8-Apr 7:30 PM ET Kentucky 7 Texas A&M 3 SEC Network+
9-Apr 2:00 PM ET Kentucky 3 Texas A&M 17 SEC Network
12-Apr 6:30 PM ET Bellarmine 1 Kentucky 11 SEC Network+
14-Apr 8:00 PM ET Kentucky 15 Missouri 6 ESPNU
15-Apr 7:00 PM ET Kentucky 4 Missouri 9 SEC Network+
16-Apr 2:00 PM ET Kentucky 6 Missouri 10 SEC Network
19-Apr 5:00 PM ET Kentucky 2 Louisville 4 ACC Network
22-Apr 12:00 PM ET Vanderbilt 10 Kentucky 0 SEC Network+
23-Apr 12:00 PM ET Vanderbilt 2 Kentucky 3 SEC Network
24-Apr 1:00 PM ET Vanderbilt 5 Kentucky 3 SEC Network+
26-Apr 6:30 PM ET Dayton 1 Kentucky 12 SEC Network+
29-Apr 6:30 PM ET Kentucky Florida SEC Network+
30-Apr 6:30 PM ET Kentucky Florida SEC Network+
1-May 12:00 PM ET Kentucky Florida SEC Network
5-May 7:00 PM ET Tennessee Kentucky SEC Network
6-May TBA Tennessee Kentucky SEC Network+
7-May TBA Tennessee Kentucky SEC Network+
10-May 6:30 PM ET UT Martin Kentucky SEC Network+
13-May TBA Kentucky South Carolina SEC Network+
14-May 12:00 PM ET Kentucky South Carolina SEC Network
15-May TBA Kentucky South Carolina SEC Network+
17-May 6:30 PM ET Tennessee Tech Kentucky SEC Network+
19-May 6:30 PM ET Auburn Kentucky SEC Network+
20-May 6:30 PM ET Auburn Kentucky SEC Network+
21-May 2:00 PM ET Auburn Kentucky SEC Network+
May 24-29 SEC Baseball Tournament
Jun 3-27 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament

Florida Schedule/Results

DATE TIME GUEST
RUNS
HOME
RUNS
TV/NOTES
18-Feb 6:30 PM ET Liberty 2 Florida 7 SEC Network+
19-Feb 4:00 PM ET Liberty 6 Florida 4 SEC Network+
20-Feb 1:00 PM ET Liberty 5 Florida 3 SEC Network+
22-Feb 6:30 PM ET Florida 8 Stetson 1 ESPN+
23-Feb 6:05 PM ET North Florida 1 Florida 3 SEC Network+
25-Feb 6:30 PM ET Georgia State 1 Florida 4 SEC Network+
26-Feb 4:00 PM ET Georgia State 4 Florida 13 SEC Network+
27-Feb 1:00 PM ET Georgia State 1 Florida 12 SEC Network+
1-Mar 6:00 PM ET Florida 11 North Florida 2
2-Mar 6:00 PM ET Florida A&M 0 Florida 17 SEC Network+
4-Mar 6:30 PM ET Florida 2 Miami 5
5-Mar 4:00 PM ET Florida 8 Miami 1
6-Mar 12:00 PM ET Florida 11 Miami 3
8-Mar 6:00 PM ET Jacksonville 0 Florida 1 SEC Network+
9-Mar 6:00 PM ET Jacksonville PPD Florida PPD SEC Network+
11-Mar 6:30 PM ET Seton Hall Florida SEC Network+
12-Mar 4:00 PM ET Seton Hall 4 Florida 16 SEC Network+
12-Mar 4:00 PM ET Seton Hall 9 Florida 11 SEC Network+
13-Mar 1:00 PM ET Seton Hall 6 Florida 4 SEC Network+
15-Mar 6:00 PM ET Florida State PPD Florida PPD SEC Network+
18-Mar 6:30 PM ET Florida 6 Alabama 4 SEC Network+
19-Mar 6:30 PM ET Florida 13 Alabama 6 SEC Network+
20-Mar 1:00 PM ET Florida 7 Alabama 8 SEC Network+
22-Mar 6:00 PM ET Bethune-Cookman 2 Florida 3 SEC Network+
25-Mar 7:00 PM ET LSU 2 Florida 7 SEC Network
26-Mar TBA LSU 16 Florida 4 SEC Network+
27-Mar TBA LSU 11 Florida 2 SEC Network+
29-Mar 7:00 PM ET Florida 6 Florida State 3
31-Mar 8:00 PM ET Florida 6 Georgia 7 ESPNU
1-Apr 6:00 PM ET Florida 1 Georgia 6 SEC Network+
2-Apr 2:00 PM ET Florida 8 Georgia 14 SEC Network+
5-Apr 6:00 PM ET Florida A&M 3 Florida 13 SEC Network+
7-Apr 7:00 PM ET Arkansas 8 Florida 1 SEC Network
8-Apr 7:30 PM ET Arkansas 2 Florida 7 SEC Network+
9-Apr 3:00 PM ET Arkansas 7 Florida 9 SEC Network+
12-Apr 7:00 PM ET Florida 0 Florida State 5 ACC Network
15-Apr 7:00 PM ET Florida 4 Vanderbilt 5 ESPN2
16-Apr 7:00 PM ET Florida 6 Vanderbilt 8 SEC Network
17-Apr 1:00 PM ET Florida 4 Vanderbilt 3 ESPNU
19-Apr 6:00 PM ET Stetson 8 Florida 10 SEC Network+
22-Apr 6:30 PM ET Tennessee 8 Florida 2 SEC Network+
23-Apr 6:30 PM ET Tennessee 3 Florida 0 SEC Network+
24-Apr 1:00 PM ET Tennessee 6 Florida 4 SEC Network+
29-Apr 6:30 PM ET Kentucky Florida SEC Network+
30-Apr 6:30 PM ET Kentucky Florida SEC Network+
1-May 12:00 PM ET Kentucky Florida SEC Network
3-May 6:00 PM ET South Florida Florida SEC Network+
6-May 8:00 PM ET Florida Mississippi St SEC Network
7-May 7:30 PM ET Florida Mississippi St ESPNU
8-May 1:00 PM ET Florida Mississippi St SEC Network+
10-May 6:30 PM ET Bethune-Cookman Florida SEC Network+
13-May 6:30 PM ET Florida Missouri SEC Network+
14-May 6:30 PM ET Florida Missouri SEC Network+
15-May 1:00 PM ET Florida Missouri SEC Network+
19-May 7:00 PM ET South Carolina Florida SEC Network+
20-May 7:00 PM ET South Carolina Florida SEC Network+
21-May 2:00 PM ET South Carolina Florida SEC Network+
May 24-29 SEC Baseball Tournament
Jun 3-27 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament

Kentucky-Florida Series Prediction

Kentucky (6-12) at Florida (6-12)
Between 1995-2005, Florida swept seven of the 11 series between these teams. Since then, it’s been more closely contested as there have been no sweeps with the Gators winning nine of the last 15 series, including the last four. The teams have split the last eight series since Kentucky won four straight between 2013-16. The last Florida sweep came in 2005 in Gainesville, while the last Kentucky sweep was in 1993 in Gainesville. Over the last 12 seasons, it’s been a series of four-game win streaks as UF won four between 2009-12, UK won four between 2013-16, and UF won the last four between 2017-21.

Kentucky is looking for its first SEC road series victory of the season while snapping a seven conference road series losing skid. The Wildcats are 4-5 at home with a series win over Georgia and 2-7 on the road in league action. After going 15-15 in SEC road series between 2012-17, UK is 3-15 over the last four seasons in conference road series.

Florida was swept at home in SEC play for the first time since Georgia accomplished the feat in 2006. The Gators sit at 6-12 in the SEC standings for the first time since that 2006 season. After starting 3-1, they are 3-11 in their last 14 league games with an SEC home series win over Arkansas.(Source: SEC)

In this series, Kentucky has an edge in batting but Florida has better pitching. Winning this series would be a tall order for the Wildcats. That said, UK should at least be able to steal a win in this one. The Gators should win this series. If they don’t they will have to walk on water to get into the NCAA tourney or at least get a decent seed.

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