SEC Baseball Series Preview/Prediction: Kentucky at South Carolina

South Carolina-Kentucky

Kentucky travels to South Carolina for a 3-game, Friday-Sunday 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
Founders Park (8,242)
Founders Park (8,242)
Andrew Eyster of South Carolina
Andrew Eyster of South Carolina

Series Schedule May 13-15

  Day Start Time (ET) TV Tickets
Game 1 Friday 7:00 PM SEC Network+ Tickets
Game 2 Saturday 12:00 PM SEC Network Tickets
Game 3 Sunday 1:30 PM SEC Network+ Tickets

Team Statistical Comparisons

Hitting

  BA OB% R H 2B 3B HR SF BB Bunts SB
Kentucky 0.283 0.379 300 424 87 9 44 20 186 15 53
South Carolina 0.262 0.362 242 356 53 4 41 18 178 17 42

Pitching & Fielding

  ERA K/9 OBA HA/9 HB SWR WHIP HR BB/9 DP F%
Kentucky 5.07 10.6 0.260 9.15 57 2.34 1.52 65 4.54 28 0.974
South Carolina 5.48 9.5 0.268 9.42 42 2.09 1.55 59 4.53 27 0.975

Statistical Leaders

Kentucky Batting Leaders

Player Team AVG OBP H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SB
Chase Estep Kentucky 0.319 0.430 58 12 1 12 39 32 16
Daniel Harris IV Kentucky 0.316 0.403 50 6 2 2 25 16 12
Hunter Jump Kentucky 0.287 0.358 54 9 0 3 23 18 4
Ryan Ritter Kentucky 0.277 0.357 51 9 2 6 30 15 11
John Thrasher Kentucky 0.276 0.396 34 7 2 1 18 19 10
Jacob Plastiak Kentucky 0.267 0.359 50 10 2 12 41 20 3
Alonzo Rubalcaba Kentucky 0.252 0.338 34 8 1 3 30 16 1
Adam Fogel Kentucky 0.251 0.321 43 13 0 3 24 14 2

Kentucky Pitching Leaders

Player Team W L ERA APP GS SV IP H R ER BB SO OBA
Sean Harney Kentucky 5 3 2.68 13 3 1 50 43 15 15 14 51 0.229

South Carolina Batting Leaders

Player Team AVG OBP H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SB
Brandt Belk South Carolina 0.344 0.429 56 9 0 5 31 24 11
Andrew Eyster South Carolina 0.340 0.423 55 9 0 9 45 19 0
Braylen Wimmer South Carolina 0.333 0.379 62 9 0 7 33 12 12
Josiah Sightler South Carolina 0.283 0.385 39 9 0 11 24 14 2
Michael Braswell South Carolina 0.276 0.352 47 7 2 2 23 21 3
Kevin Madden South Carolina 0.255 0.332 42 2 1 6 24 13 5
Colin Burgess South Carolina 0.211 0.365 26 7 0 5 24 22 0

South Carolina Pitching Leaders

Player Team W L ERA APP GS SV IP H R ER BB SO OBA
Will Sanders South Carolina 7 2 3.87 12 12 0 74 73 35 32 25 74 0.256
Noah Hall South Carolina 2 4 4.93 13 10 0 65 69 38 36 26 66 0.267

Massey College Baseball Ranking Composite

Kentucky:

51

South Carolina:

54

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

South Carolina Roster

NO. Name Pos. HT WT Class City ST
36 Cade Austin RHP 6′-3″ 230 R-Fr. Chapin SC
29 Matthew Becker LHP 6′-3″ 200 Fr. Chapin SC
13 Brandt Belk OF 6′-5″ 180 Grad. Houston TX
18 Julian Bosnic LHP 6′-3″ 218 R-Jr. Lutz FL
7 Michael Braswell INF/RHP 6′-2″ 195 Fr. Mabelton GA
10 Colin Burgess C 5′-8″ 195 Jr. Lexington KY
21 Connor Cino OF 6′-1″ 206 So. Mt. Pleasant SC
44 Parker Coyne RHP 6′-2″ 210 5th Suwanee GA
31 David Cromer OF 6′-2″ 225 R-Fr. Lexington SC
26 Thad Ector OF 6′-2″ 195 Fr. Tyrone GA
24 Michael Esposito LHP 5′-10″ 190 Jr. Port Washington NY
11 Andrew Eyster OF 6′-3″ 220 5th Ocala FL
16 John Gilreath LHP 6′-0″ 179 5th Rock Hill SC
33 Noah Hall RHP 6′-0″ 190 Jr. Charlotte NC
34 James Hicks RHP 6′-2″ 190 Jr. Conway AR
20 Matt Hogan OF 6′-0″ 195 Sr. Melville NY
15 Carson Hornung INF 6′-3″ 210 Fr. Overland Park KS
38 Aidan Hunter RHP 6′-4″ 205 Fr. Summerville SC
14 Eli Jones RHP 6′-1″ 190 Fr. Peachtree City GA
22 Elijah Lambros OF 6′-2″ 195 Fr. Fredericksburg VA
5 Talmadge LeCroy UTL 6′-2″ 190 Fr. Belton SC
50 Kevin Madden INF 6′-1″ 215 Sr. Glenwood MD
23 Jack Mahoney RHP 6′-3″ 210 So. Arlington Heights IL
19 Cole Messina C 6′-0″ 215 Fr. Summerville SC
4 Jackson Phipps LHP 6′-5″ 225 So. Dallas GA
32 Will Sanders RHP 6′-6″ 215 So. Atlanta GA
12 Josiah Sightler INF/LHP 6′-5″ 235 Sr. Gaston SC
25 Sam Simpson RHP 6′-1″ 175 Fr. Carrollton GA
9 Evan Stone OF 6′-0″ 180 Fr. Irmo SC
40 Wesley Sweatt RHP 6′-3″ 225 Sr. Rock Hill SC
30 Brett Thomas RHP 6′-5″ 245 Jr. Atlanta GA
37 Cam Tringali RHP 6′-4″ 230 Gr. Columbia SC
28 Vytas Valincius INF 6′-4″ 230 Fr. Lockport IL
2 Jalen Vasquez INF 6′-0″ 170 So. North Charleston SC
45 CJ Weins RHP 6′-3″ 223 Sr. Lockport IL
3 Braylen Wimmer INF 6′-4″ 200 Jr. Yukon OK

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 2 Florida 9 SEC Network+
30-Apr 6:30 PM ET Kentucky 1 Florida 9 SEC Network+
1-May 12:00 PM ET Kentucky 8 Florida 1 SEC Network
5-May 7:00 PM ET Tennessee 2 Kentucky 3 SEC Network
6-May TBA Tennessee 2 Kentucky 5 SEC Network+
7-May TBA Tennessee 7 Kentucky 2 SEC Network+
10-May 6:30 PM ET UT Martin Kentucky Canceled SEC Network+
13-May 7:00 PM ET 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

South Carolina Schedule/Results

DATE TIME GUEST
RUNS
HOME
RUNS
TV/NOTES
18-Feb 4:00 PM ET UNC Greensboro 7 South Carolina 9 SEC Network+
19-Feb 2:00 PM ET UNC Greensboro 5 South Carolina 4 SEC Network+
20-Feb 1:30 PM ET UNC Greensboro 7 South Carolina 8 SEC Network+
22-Feb 4:00 PM ET Winthrop 1 South Carolina 7 SEC Network+
25-Feb 4:00 PM ET G Washington 4 South Carolina 13 SEC Network+
26-Feb 2:00 PM ET G Washington 6 South Carolina 10 SEC Network+
27-Feb 1:30 PM ET G Washington PPD South Carolina PPD SEC Network+
1-Mar 6:00 PM ET South Carolina 9 Appalachian St 6 SEC Network+
4-Mar 7:00 PM ET Clemson 3 South Carolina 2 SEC Network+
5-Mar 4:00 PM ET South Carolina 2 Clemson 10 SEC Network+
6-Mar 3:00 PM ET South Carolina 2 Clemson 5 ACC Network
8-Mar 7:00 PM ET Xavier 15 South Carolina 7 SEC Network+
11-Mar 7:00 PM ET Texas PPD South Carolina PPD SEC Network+
11-Mar 7:00 PM ET Texas 9 South Carolina 5 SEC Network+
12-Mar 4:00 PM ET Texas 9 South Carolina 5 SEC Network+
13-Mar 1:30 PM ET Texas 9 South Carolina 5 SEC Network+
13-Mar 1:30 PM ET Texas 2 South Carolina 4 SEC Network+
15-Mar 7:00 PM ET Gardner-Webb 0 South Carolina 12 SEC Network+
18-Mar 6:30 PM ET South Carolina 3 Tennessee 7 SEC Network+
19-Mar 12:00 PM ET South Carolina 2 Tennessee 5 SEC Network
20-Mar 1:00 PM ET South Carolina 0 Tennessee 10 SEC Network+
22-Mar TBA South Carolina 3 The Citadel 4
24-Mar 8:00 PM ET Vanderbilt 10 South Carolina 0 ESPN2
25-Mar TBA Vanderbilt 2 South Carolina 8 SEC Network+
26-Mar TBA Vanderbilt 6 South Carolina 8 SEC Network+
29-Mar 7:00 PM ET Presbyterian 9 South Carolina 6 SEC Network+
1-Apr 7:00 PM ET South Carolina 4 Missouri 1 SEC Network+
2-Apr 3:00 PM ET South Carolina 7 Missouri 8 SEC Network+
3-Apr 2:00 PM ET South Carolina 3 Missouri 10 SEC Network+
6-Apr 7:00 PM ET South Carolina 15 North Carolina 2
8-Apr 7:00 PM ET Georgia 3 South Carolina 2 SEC Network+
9-Apr 4:00 PM ET Georgia 7 South Carolina 13 SEC Network+
10-Apr 12:00 PM ET Georgia 13 South Carolina 9 SEC Network
12-Apr 7:00 PM ET North Florida 2 South Carolina 4 SEC Network+
14-Apr 7:00 PM ET Ole Miss 9 South Carolina 1 SEC Network+
15-Apr 7:00 PM ET Ole Miss 2 South Carolina 4 SEC Network+
16-Apr 2:00 PM ET Ole Miss 8 South Carolina 9 SEC Network+
20-Apr 6:00 PM ET South Carolina 5 Winthrop 2 ESPN+
22-Apr 7:00 PM ET South Carolina 3 Auburn 6 SEC Network+
23-Apr 3:00 PM ET South Carolina 6 Auburn 8 SEC Network+
24-Apr 2:00 PM ET South Carolina 0 Auburn 2 SEC Network+
28-Apr 7:00 PM ET Alabama 5 South Carolina 6 SEC Network
29-Apr 7:00 PM ET Alabama 1 South Carolina 2 SEC Network+
30-Apr 12:00 PM ET Alabama 5 South Carolina 11 SEC Network
4-May 7:00 PM ET NC A&T 4 South Carolina 9 SEC Network
6-May 7:30 PM ET South Carolina 4 Texas A&M 16 SEC Network+
7-May 3:00 PM ET South Carolina 12 Texas A&M 13 SEC Network+
8-May 2:00 PM ET South Carolina 9 Texas A&M 4 SEC Network+
10-May 7:00 PM ET SC Upstate 9 South Carolina 6 SEC Network+
13-May 7:00 PM ET 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 7:00 PM ET Charlotte South Carolina 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-South Carolina Series Prediction

This tightly contested series sees South Carolina owning a 15-14 lead since 1992 while winning the last two series, including a sweep last year. Speaking of sweeps, 14 of the 29 series have resulted in sweeps, 10 for South Carolina and four for Kentucky. The Wildcats last swept the Gamecocks in 2012 in Lexington and posted their only sweep in Columbia in 1999. Thanks to all the sweeps, South Carolina owns a 50-37 advantage in regular-season conference games played.

Kentucky pulled off the series win over Tennessee, becoming the first team to take a series over the Volunteers this season. The series win also snapped a five-series losing streak by the Wildcats and gave them their second SEC home series triumph (defeated Georgia in week 2). UK is looking to avoid going winless in five SEC road series for the first time since 2011. The Cats have three SEC road series over the last four seasons. They are battling with Mississippi State for the final SEC Tournament spot.

South Carolina likes Founders Park as it has won three of four series this season and seeks its fourth for the first time since 2018. Since 1992, the Gamecocks have won 98 of 144 conference home series, trailing only LSU (105) and Florida (104) in that span. South Carolina has won its last five SEC home games and is coming off a home sweep of Alabama two weeks ago. They are 10-10 in conference play since starting 0-4 and have won four of their last six league games. (Source: SEC)

This should be an interesting SEC baseball series. You have improved South Carolina taking on a Kentucky team that has mostly struggled this season but did the unthinkable last weekend by winning a series against No. 1 Tennessee. Kentucky has the edge in both pitching and hitting but I think South Carolina pulls out a series win at home.

South Carolina 2 wins, Kentucky 1 win

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