Pregame Report: Kentucky Hands Ball to Austin Strickland For Super Regional Game Two vs. LSU
BATON ROUGE, La. — Kentucky baseball is once again facing elimination.
The Bat Cats were ran off the field in a 14-0 smushing at the hands of LSU in game one of the Baton Rouge Regional on Saturday night. Six home runs from the Tigers did more than enough damage, as starter Paul Skenes sliced and diced UK for 7.2 innings.
Now needing to win the final two games of the series vs. the Tigers, head coach Nick Mingione is sending right-handed pitcher Austin Strickland out to the bump to begin game two.
Strickland made just his second start of the season last weekend, as UK was facing elimination in the Lexington Regional. He began what was a three-game win streak by throwing 6.0 scoreless frames in a 10-0 win over West Virginia. His first start of the season came in the final regular season series of the season against Florida, where he allowed just three runs in 6.2 innings.
On the year, he's made 19 appearances and owns a 4-1 record, a 4.44 ERA, 57 strikeouts and just 16 walks. He pitched once vs. LSU back in April during the regular season series between the Cats and Bayou Bengals, allowing two runs on two hits in 2.2 innings in LSU's 7-6 win that claimed the three-game series.
Behind Strickland, Kentucky still carries a deep bullpen. Though Saturday-night starter Zack Lee lasted only 4.0 innings, Mingione used two low-leverage arms in Christian Howe and Seth Logue, as the deficit was already out of reach.
The likes of Darren Williams, Mason Moore and Travis Smith will be available to provide length, if need be, while the likes of Logan Martin, a trio of lefties (Jackson Nove, Evan Byers, Magdiel Cotto) and a host of short-usage righties, including Ryder Giles and Seth Chavez will be available.
LSU had to use just one reliever behind Skenes (RHP Blake Money), meaning a fresh Tiger bullpen is also at the disposal of head coach Jay Johnson. Right-hander Ty Floyd (7-0, 4.34) gets the start.
Game two is set for 6:06 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN2.
How Division-III roots are pushing Jackson Gray to the finish line in a special season HERE.
Roommates, Kentuckians, Brothers: More on Darren Williams and Mason Moore HERE.
The King of Work: More on catcher Devin Burkes and his MVP honors HERE.
Game recap of Kentucky's Regional-clinching win can be found HERE.
How getting hit in batting practice helps Kentucky HERE.
How hard conversations molded RHP Austin Strickland HERE.
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