Cats versus Gators, it starts today....

[Black Diamond Cat]

UK 18-9 takes on UF 19-8 in the 1st of 3 games beginning tonight @ 7:30 pm. The Cats will send out Sean Hjelle, while the Gators will counter with Alex Faedo.
This one should/could be one of the lower scoring games of the series, the Cats are hitting .322 as a team,which is outstanding, among the top 5 in the country.
Florida has been swinging the bats very well as of late, but their numbers for the season are well behind UK in avg., HR, and rbi.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

I'm excited but nervous as hell.

 

[vhcat70]

Starts at 700p on ESPN. So 730 above means a 1/2 hr of bs before it actually starts?

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

Starts at 700p on ESPN. So 730 above means a 1/2 hr of bs before it actually starts?

Actually some confusion about this, SEC web site says 7:30 on ESPNU, while other sites say 7:00 on ESPN.

 

[Oldtrainer]

Starts at 700p on ESPN. So 730 above means a 1/2 hr of bs before it actually starts?

Is it ESPN or ESPN U?

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

Is it ESPN or ESPN U?

VIOLA ...... just checked the ESPN programming grid, and the game IS at 7:00 pm on ESPN. We made the big prime time !

 

[jayhovah]

SEC title on the line: The Southeastern Conference schedule couldn’t have worked out any better for the final weekend of the season. With No. 5 Florida hosting No. 8 Kentucky and No. 11 Mississippi State taking on No. 10 Louisiana State, both divisions will have de facto championship series this weekend. Florida (38-14, 19-10) holds the overall lead in the SEC, with Kentucky (37-16, 18-9) and LSU (35-17, 18-9) a game off the pace and Mississippi State (34-19, 17-10) two games back. In addition to chasing a conference title, all four teams are also looking to shore up their resumes to be regional hosts and national seeds.

Florida simply needs to win the series to win its first conference title since 2014, as it holds the head-to-head tiebreaker against LSU. Kentucky also holds the head-to-head tie breaker against LSU, leaving the Tigers in need of a sweep to win their second conference championship in three years. Mississippi State needs a sweep and a Kentucky series win (but not sweep) to claim back-to-back SEC titles. Kentucky would win its first SEC title since 2006 with a sweep, or a series win and an LSU series win.

Both series have plenty of intrigue beyond the championship at stake. This will be the first meeting between LSU coach Paul Mainieri and Mississippi State coach Andy Cannizaro, who was an assistant coach under Mainieri for two seasons before leaving in November to take over the Bulldogs. Florida and Kentucky, meanwhile, have split the series almost as evenly as possible over the last 10 years. The teams are 16-16 against each other, both have won five series and the average score of those 32 games is Florida 6.4, Kentucky 6.2.

— Teddy Cahill


Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/weekend-preview-sec-division-titles-line/#sJODCO1eRYp8AEdh.99

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

Less than an hour till 1st pitch in Gainsville ..... GO Cats !

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Were getting closer.........

 

[Comebakatz3]

Bad luck so far. Wow

 

[Old_Red]

Bad luck so far. Wow

No kidding... The error is an error. but hitting third base plus hitting a line drive off of Reks on the base path.

 

[Comebakatz3]

No kidding... The error is an error. but hitting third base plus hitting a line drive off of Reks on the base path.

But I think he got the tag on the shoulder. No doubt in my mind he got the tag on the runner

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

Pretty horrible start for UK so far. Bad luck hitting Reks in the top of 1, now bases are loaded in bottom of 1st with only 1 out.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

Sac fly by UF to go up 1-0. Now 2 outs, really need to get this third out and not let them score again.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

2-0 UF after 1. Horrible start, but it could actually have been a lot worse as UF left two men in scoring position. Come on boys, let's get the bats going.

 

[Comebakatz3]

That inning could not have been much worse for UK. Need to bounce back soon.

 

[law1127]

Some strikes not being called for Hjelle.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Faedo just filling up the strike zone.

 

[Old_Red]

Some strikes not being called for Hjelle.

But that pitch that India hit was not that well placed, up too high and not right on the corner. That's how a .252 hitter gets a hit.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Well the two out singles are there.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

Ugh, two two out singles and then heady hits a lazy fly to center to end inning.

 

[Old_Red]

Well the two out singles are there.

Just need the two out singles with runners in scoring position.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Well we are putting some good sticks on it with two outs. Got to find hits earlier in the inning though. Faedo isn't going to make many mistakes

 

[Comebakatz3]

Hjelle just not that sharp so far

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

Hjelle just not that sharp so far

He looks horrible. Just can't hit the strike zone.

 

[Comebakatz3]

This is a nightmare so far...

 

[Old_Red]

Hjelle just not that sharp so far

You're right there. Seems frustrated but is also not throwing strikes.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

You just cannot expect to win in gainesville if you're going to walk the first two batters and commit errors. Total disaster so far.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

Even worse, the first two batters were 8 and 9 hole hitters.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I think Hjelle hates Thursdays

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

3-0 Gators. This may be a long night.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Hjelle just doesn't have it tonight.

 

[Old_Red]

He just can't throw strikes. This will be just about the worst possible start. 23 walks in 13 starts before for this, but 5 walks in 1 2/3 innings.

 

[DubyaT]

Thompson going to the pen to warm up.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Hjelle has 5 walks and only had 23 this year before

 

[Comebakatz3]

Whew... let's go guys!!!

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

Good lord, that was lucky to get out of that giving up only 1 run. Hjelle with by far his worst outing of the year, he needs to get his head in the game. Does Nick go to the pen in the 3rd or give him another shot?

 

[Old_Red]

Faedo is owning our batters. Seems to have an 0-2 before the first pitch.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Faedo is owning our batters. Seems to have an 0-2 before the first pitch.

He's thrown strikes... simple as that.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

Now white and pompey looking totally silly at the plate. Ugh, what a night.