Kentucky has some quality pitching options entering regional final
Win or go home. The mission is simple for Kentucky baseball entering Monday night’s regional final against No. 3 seed Indiana. However, there is some added stress on the Wildcats after having to come out of the loser’s bracket on Sunday to win two games to extend this series.
Through four games at Kentucky Proud Park this weekend, the Kentucky pitching staff has burned through 11 pitchers and will enter Monday’s game with a limited pitching menu. However, it’s not too bad after UK got Austin Strickland, Logan Martin, and Ryan Hagenow to eat a combined 13.2 out of 18 innings in Sunday’s doubleheader against West Virginia and Indiana.
Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione and pitching coach Dan Roszel will have some legitimate options heading into Monday’s huge tilt with a super regional berth on the line.
Full-go
Tyler Bosma: The 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher has started 23 games for Kentucky over the last two seasons logging 92.2 innings. The former Miami (Ohio) transfer owns a 5.61 ERA and 1.50 WHIP this season. Bosma fell out of Kentucky’s weekend rotation in May after some rough outings. However, Bosma gave UK six innings of one hit baseball against a powerful LSU lineup last year at the SEC Tournament. The veteran has pitched in big games. Don’t be surprised if he gets the start with a plan to get 3-4 solid innings out of the veteran.
Darren Williams: The super senior and former EKU transfer will be somewhere in the mix on Monday night. Williams (15 appearances, 4.01 ERA, 58.1 innings) needed 27 pitches to get out of the eighth inning against Indiana on Saturday night, but got a full day of rest on Sunday. The 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher has started five games this season but has been a valuable long relief option out of the bullpen. UK could start Williams or decide to bring him in early after a soft start to eat the middle innings. Regardless of location, the plan will likely be for Williams to get 3-4 innings of work at some point in the championship contest.
Evan Byers: The redshirt sophomore pitched the fourth inning against Indiana on Sunday for his first regional appearance. However, he was quickly pulled after 18 pitches with Kentucky seizing control of the game. Expect UK to have Byers (22 appearances, 1.20 ERA, 15.0 innings) as an option late to provide at least one inning tonight against an Indiana lineup that features some powerful lefties.
Jackson Nove: Another left-handed bullpen option, Nove (18 appearances, 4.43 ERA, 22.1 innings) has not appeared in a game this weekend yet but drew appearances in 10 SEC games this season. The true sophomore has had some bright moments including a five-game, five-inning stretch where he didn’t allow a run in April.
Could be available
Mason Moore: An argument can be made that Moore is the most valuable pitcher on Kentucky’s staff. The sophomore has allowed just two runs in his last eight appearances over 18.2 innings. That is getting it done. Moore logged five innings against Ball State on Friday but needed only 50 pitches to get home. That could make him available for an inning or two tonight.
Travis Smith: The starter on Friday, the hard-throwing Smith tossed four innings of scoreless baseball with 76 pitches before being pulled for Moore. On just two days rest, this turnaround could be too quick but the redshirt freshman with 39 strikeouts in 44.1 innings might be an option.
Unavailable
Zack Lee: Kentucky’s Sunday night starter threw 106 pitches on Saturday night against Indiana with one three-run bomb by the Hoosiers being the difference. If UK advances to the super regional, Lee will get another start.
Austin Strickland: One of Kentucky’s top bullpen options threw a stellar six innings against a powerful West Virginia lineup on Sunday afternoon. With 100 pitches logged, Strickland is done for the weekend.
Logan Martin: In his seventh start of the season, Martin went three innings against Indiana on 57 pitches allowing two runs.
Ryan Hagenow: Another quality bullpen arm, Hagenow went 4.2 innings on Sunday night with 72 pitches to get Kentucky to Monday.
Source: KSR
