Kentucky coach Nick Mingione, Indiana assistant exchange words after Lexington Regional game

Tensions were running high after Sunday’s game between Kentucky and Indiana. Wildcats coach Nick Mingione and a Hoosiers assistant exchanged some words in the postgame handshake line.

The teams lined up after Kentucky came away with the 16-6 victory over Indiana to force an if-necessary game on Sunday. Mingione then shared some words with the assistant, and they continued doing so as personnel from both teams — including Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart — kept them apart.

The ESPN broadcast captured the exchange.

Mingione with some words with the IU Assistant

Look at the end as Mitch is READY TO GO!!!! pic.twitter.com/VZQfGLC1HG

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) June 5, 2023

In the game, nine Kentucky hitters were hit by pitches — including Jase Felker, who was hit three times on his own. The Wildcats’ victory was fueled by a huge seventh inning in which they scored seven runs with home runs coming from Hunter Gilliam and Ryan Waldschmidt.

Mingione was asked about the exchanges in the postgame press conference and pointed out the emotions of playing in a game like Sunday’s. Both teams are still vying for spots in the Super Regionals, and he said it was part of the competitive nature of the tournament.

He then gave credit to the umpires for keeping the peace.

“Guys, there’s a lot at stake here,” Mingione said. “We’re all playing for a lot of really important things. And when you have a group of competitive coaches, players, that happens. So I give the umpires a lot of credit. I think they’ve done a great job handling and managing everything. So kudos to the umpires, you know. I think they’ve done a great job.”

Mingione also addressed the number of hit-by-pitches his team faced, and how it impacted his players’ mentalities. Gilliam and Nolan McCarthy both talked about how they got amped up, and Mingione said not everyone feels that way. However, he thought the Wildcats handled themselves well throughout the game even as they got some bruises along the way.

“You know, I think everybody’s different there,” Mingione said. “And just like everybody, you know, handles things differently. Some of them get fired up. Some of them get mad. They all kind of handle it a little differently. But I think they did a good job today. But if one guy goes too much the other way, we’ll kind of coach him up. I thought they did good today.”

Monday, Kentucky and Indiana will square off in a rematch for a spot in the Super Regionals. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.