UK baseball vaults up rankings after big weekend

Infielder+Thomas+McCarthy+high-fives+teammates+after+scoring+during+the+final+game+of+the+UK+vs.+South+Carolina+series+in+Lexington%2C+Ky.%2C+on+3%2F18%2F12.+Photo+by+Brandon+Goodwin

Infielder Thomas McCarthy high-fives teammates after scoring during the final game of the UK vs. South Carolina series in Lexington, Ky., on 3/18/12. Photo by Brandon Goodwin

By David Schuh

The UK baseball team is drawing some serious national attention after its sweep of two-time defending national champion South Carolina last weekend.

Still the only undefeated team in the country at 21-0, the Cats now find themselves two wins away from equaling the longest streak in SEC history, according to UK Athletics.

Here’s a rundown of where UK stands in the various national rankings:

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper: No. 2 | Last week – No. 16

USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll: No. 6 | Last week – No. 20

Baseball America: No. 16 | Last week – NR

Each of those rankings are the highest since 2008, a team that won a school record 44 games.

“We had some good teams in 2006 and 2008 with those kids…but certainly nothing like this at this time of the year,” UK head coach Gary Henderson said. “To make a statement like this with what these kids have done, that’s been great for us.”

The Cats travel to the University of Cincinnati (8-9) Wednesday at 4 p.m.