March 19, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Riding the third-longest winning streak in the storied history of the Southeastern Conference, Kentucky has soared to No. 2 in the nation in the latest weekly poll released by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, with UK climbing from No. 16 last week, it was announced on Monday afternoon.

Kentucky (21-0, 3-0 SEC) is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA, just behind unanimous No. 1 Florida. UK’s ranking is the highest for the Wildcats since a No. 2 ranking in Collegiate Baseball on March 17, 2008, fresh after the Wildcats swept Alabama to open conference play.

UK’s 21-game winning streak to open the season ranks third in SEC history, behind the 23-game winning streak by the 2010 NCAA Champions LSU Tigers and a 22-game streak by the 2000 South Carolina Gamecocks. The streak ranks as a school record, eclipsing the 19-0 star in 2007 and 2008.

The Wildcats swept the two-time defending NCAA Champion South Carolina Gamecocks on SEC opening weekend to extend the record and emerge as the early story of college baseball. In polls released on Monday, UK has moved to No. 16 by Baseball America and No. 6 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. In addition, UK freshman two-way star A.J. Reed was named the SEC Freshman of the Week and the SEbaseball.com National Player of the Week.

The Wildcats return to action on Wednesday, traveling to face Cincinnati at Marge Schott Stadium at 4 p.m. ET.

Collegiate Baseball Poll

1. Florida
2. Kentucky
3. Stanford
4. Arkansas
5. Florida St.
6. South Carolina
7. North Carolina
8. LSU
9. Miami, Fla.
10. Rice
11. N.C. State
12. Cal. St. Fullerton
13. Texas A&M
14. Arizona
15. Stetson
16. UCLA
17. Oregon
18. Arizona St.
19. TCU
20. Georgia Tech.
21. Texas
22. Louisville
23. Georgia
24. Purdue
25. Oregon St.
26. Ole Miss
27. Baylor
28. UCF
29. Appalachian St.
30. Texas St.