Kentucky Blanks West Virginia to Stay Alive in Lexington Regional

After a disappointing loss to Indiana on Saturday night, Kentucky baseball bounced back in grand fashion with a 10-0 win over West Virginia on Sunday. One down, two to go.

With the win, the ‘Cats advance to what could be the Regional Final tonight against Indiana at 6:00 p.m. ET. Kentucky must win tonight to force a winner-take-all Regional Final against the Hoosiers on Monday. Nothing like postseason baseball.

After a poor showing over their first two NCAA Tournament games, the Kentucky offense sprung to life in this one. The ‘Cats garnered a Regional-best nine hits and 10 runs, hopefully a good omen for their later game(s) against the Hoosiers.

Austin Strickland was the star of the show in his second start of the season. Stricky threw a career-high 100 pitches over six innings, allowing just four hits and no earned runs while striking out six batters. Strickland’s start was crucial for the ‘Cats, as he allowed the Wildcat bullpen to save some more arms for their possible two games against Indiana. It seemed this one went just about as well as it could have for the ‘Cats.

‘Cats Strike First

Kentucky fell behind almost immediately in their loss to Indiana on Saturday thanks to Phillip Glasser’s first-pitch home run. The ‘Cats switched things up in this one, making sure that they would control the early momentum. After a nice first frame from Austin Strickland, Jackson Gray was plunked to kick off the bottom of the first. As the speedy Gray took two steps off the base, Jase Felker ripped a double down the third base line that rolled all the way back to the fence. Gray raced around third and scored standing up, giving the ‘Cats a quick 1-0 lead.

Émilien Pitre continued to add to Kentucky’s early lead, belting a rocket grounder to WVU 1B Grant Hussey. Hussey bobbled the grounder, allowing Felker to race home from third to score. Nolan McCarthy got in on the hit parade in the second inning, hitting a double identical to Felker’s down the third base line, allowing Reuben Church (who kicked off the inning with a single) to score from second. Kentucky led by three through two.

Controversial Call at Home

Kentucky nearly added to their lead in the third inning before a controversial call wiped a run off the board for the ‘Cats.

Devin Burkes was plunked, putting a runner on first base for Émilien Pitre. Pitre blooped a single into center field, but the spry Burkes decided he would attempt to score. After a gutsy wave home from Mingione at third, Burkes slid into home just before the throw came in, giving Kentucky a 4-0 lead.

Upon replay review, however, it was revealed that WVU catcher Dayne Leonard blocked the plate with his foot as soon as he caught the throw, keeping Burkes’ foot from touching home plate. The call was controversial, but Burkes was ruled out and the run was wiped off the board. Kentucky’s lead remained at three through the first three innings of this one.

Wildcats Advance to Regional Final

Thanks to the phenomenal outing by Austin Strickland, the Kentucky offense had opportunity after opportunity to pad their lead. Ryan Waldschmidt kicked off the bottom of the fourth inning with a walk, putting a runner on base for Nolan McCarthy. McCarthy belted his second Big Blue Bomb of the season, driving in two more Wildcat runs. Sunday’s Regional opener was a breath of fresh air for an offense that had been struggling immensely as of late.

Hunter Gilliam continued the hit parade in the bottom of the fifth inning, singling to shallow center to score Jase Felker from third after tagging up on an Émilien Pitre fly-out. Following a stressful Saturday night that came back to bite them, the Wildcats were in steady control for most of this one.

CAP! @CaptGIlliam delivers RBI single to push the lead to 6-0! pic.twitter.com/zccK4zoAuf

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) June 4, 2023

The ‘Cats added on another four runs over down the stretch thanks to a Reuben Church infield single that scored Devin Burkes from second and a Burkes three-run double down the third base line. Burkes had himself a great Sunday morning outing, drawing a walk, HBP, and the three-run double. Magdiel Cotto came on in relief of Strickland in the seventh and closed things out for the ‘Cats.

First pitch between Kentucky and Indiana is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET tonight on ESPN+.

Kentucky garners their second shutout of the NCAA Tournament as Strickland and Cotto blank the Mountaineers, sending them back home to Morgantown. 'Cats/Hoosiers now set for the Regional Final tonight at 6:00 p.m. ET. @KySportsRadio pic.twitter.com/VP00xcomeO

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) June 4, 2023