LEXINGTON ? Fresh off a series victory over eighth-ranked LSU, the Kentucky baseball team earned its first national ranking in six years cracking the Collegiate Baseball poll at No. 26 when the rankings were announced Monday.
The Wildcats are off to a 17-4 start, their second best in the school?s 102-year history of baseball. The run includes taking two of three from LSU to open Southeastern Conference play over the weekend. Kentucky was one strike away from sweeping the Tigers before allowing a ninth-inning rally.
It is the first time UK has been ranked since April 3, 2000 when the Wildcats held down the No. 28 spot in the poll. It is the highest ranking for Kentucky since four weeks prior to that when the team was 20th.
The Wildcats are one of seven SEC teams in the poll, which includes four teams in the top 10. Next weekend?s opponent, Tennessee is 15th, one spot behind LSU.
The John Cohen Show: The first radio call-in show with Kentucky baseball coach John Cohen takes place Tuesday at 8 p.m. and can be heard in Lexington on WLAP 630-AM.
Fans wishing to talk about UK baseball?s recent success can call in locally at 367-6154 or by using a toll-free number, 1-800-249-CATS (2287). Cingular customers can also call in for free by dialing #85 on their cellular phone.
Wildcats Dominate SEC Stats: Kentucky?s offensive juggernaut continues to dominate the SEC statistical leaderboard. The Wildcats rank first in the league in eight of 14 statistical categories, including runs per game, on-base percentage, slugging, home runs, and doubles. The team is also third in batting average and hits.
The offense hasn?t been the whole story as UK is also near the top of the league in some pitching categories and in defense. Kentucky has issued the fewest walks in the league and is in the top half in fewest runs allowed. The defense is third overall in fielding percentage and has turned the second most double plays.
Individually, Ryan Strieby leads a host of Wildcats among the league leaders. He is the only player in the SEC to rank in the top five in the conference in batting average (4th, .398) and slugging percentage (3rd, .711). For good measure, he is also in the top five in on-base percentage (4th, .509), runs (2nd, 23), hits (2nd, 23), RBIs (1st, 29), doubles (1st, 12) and total bases (2nd, 59).
Strieby is hardly a one-man show. Collin Cowgill and Sean Coughlin are each in the top five in the league in slugging. Cowgill and Strieby are the only two SEC players in the top five in both slugging and on-base percentage.
Antone DeJesus edged Strieby for the league runs lead with 25 while Cowgill is third at 22 and Coughlin is eighth with 20. Cowgill also cracked the top 10 home runs with five and RBIs with 21. Coughlin?s team-best six homers is good for a second place tie in the league.
On the mound, Greg Dombrowski, who is 4-0 this year, has the lowest ERA in the conference at 1.26 and is also the only pitcher in the conference who has yet to walk a batter. Craig Snipp, also 4-0, is eighth in the conference in strikeouts at 37.
Wednesday Game Against Xavier Moved up to 4 p.m.: Kentucky has moved its game on Wednesday against Xavier up to 4 p.m. from its original start time of 6:30 p.m. The move has been made to due to expected weather conditions later in the evening.
The game will wrap UK?s school-record 16-game homestand, which has seen the Wildcats post a 12-3 record.
