Zack Lee Tabbed Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week

Kentucky baseball had already had a whale of a weekend after it won the first two games of its series vs. then-No. 3 South Carolina following a 14-7 drubbing on Saturday afternoon.

Then came Sunday's matchup, as the Wildcats pulled off the sweep over the Gamecocks, putting the icing on top of a miraculous series that could serve as the reason UK hosts an NCAA Tournament Regional if it earns a bid in a few weeks time. The catalyst to the 9-2 victory was senior right-hander Zack Lee.

Coming off an impressive outing against Vanderbilt the week prior, in which he threw five innings, allowing four hits and one earned, the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder was nails, showcasing some of his best pitching of his collegiate career.

In a season-high 6.2 innings pitched, Lee allowed seven hits and two earned, but struck out a career-high 12 batters while walking none, mixing speeds and locating as well as he ever has. He wad walked at least one batter in his last seven starts before Sunday, two of which saw a whopping five free passes.

That wasn't an issue against the Gamecocks, as he got swings and misses all day, inducing seven ground outs and just one fly out. His 12 Ks tie Mason Hazelwood for the third-most in a single-game in the head coach Nick Mingione era, and are just one off Zack Thompson and Sean Hjelle, both of whom struck out 13.

As a result, Lee was named one of Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week. On the season, Lee is now 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA across 53.1 IP. He now has 55 strikeouts this season, a career-high.

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