Nick Mingione reveals his message to team as Kentucky faces do-or-die challenge in Game 2

Kentucky‘s back is against the wall after suffering a 14-0 beatdown at the hands of LSU in Game 1 of the Baton Rouge Super Regional. A loss on Sunday sends the Bat Cats back to Lexington, but head coach Nick Mingione isn’t sweating it.

“Last time we were here it was the same thing. A very similar outcome, a very similar deal where we didn’t play our best and we came out the next day and played exceptionally well and had a chance to win on Sunday,” Mingione said after the loss. “Been there, done that. I told the team that just now. Hey, we’ve been in a very similar situation, not only last weekend but the last time we were here.

“Obviously a lot at stake tomorrow, but we’ve been here before.”

When Kentucky came down to Baton Rouge in April for an SEC weekend series, the Wildcats scored 25 total runs during the three-game road trip — but was only enough to avoid the sweep. LSU defeated Mingione’s squad 16-6 on the first day and 7-6 during the series finale. Kentucky won a 13-10 game two shootout, a performance Mingione and company will have to mirror that performance to keep their season alive past Sunday.

Add in the fact that Kentucky had to play through the consolation rounds of the Lexington Regional last weekend, winning three elimination games in two days to advance to Baton Rouge. Kentucky has been through this before.

UK’s bats stalled during the first two games of the tournament — but in the face of pressure, Kentucky’s offense couldn’t be stopped after losing to Indiana on the second day. They went on to outscore their opponents 28-8 for the rest of the regional, including two back-to-back 10-run wins.

Mingione has prided this year’s team on playing a down-and-dirty, car-crash style of offense. Emphasizing base-running, sac-bunting, working the count and doing anything and everything possible to get on base — Kentucky’s players have bought into that mentality and is why they’re in the Super Regional for just the second time in program history.

Still, there’s much to overcome for the Wildcats following Saturday’s five-hour rain delay (that had no rain) and 14-run loss. With LSU ace Paul Skenes resting for the remainder of the series, Kentucky’s batters have the opportunity to return to their brand of baseball in the hopes of stealing the series from the Tigers.

The first pitch for game two is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 6 p.m. ET. ESPN2 will carry the national broadcast.