Kentucky to open Regional play against Western Michigan Friday

No. 2 national seed Kentucky will open NCAA Tournament play in the Lexington Regional Friday afternoon against Western Michigan.

Kentucky currently sits at 40-14 (22-8), five wins away from tying its most in a season (45 in 2012). The Cats clinched a share of their second ever SEC Regular Season Championship and are hosting their second consecutive Lexington Regional.

Western Michigan (32-21, 19-11) finished the regular season as runner-ups in the Mid-American (MAC) Conference, five games behind champions Bowling Green (33-20, 24-6). The Broncos however won the MAC Tournament, clinching their 13th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

Western Michigan will meet Kentucky in the first game of the Lexington Regional Friday afternoon, where the winner will face the winner of Indiana State/Illinois on Saturday. The losers of their respective games will play in an eliminator on Saturday, with the loser heading home.

Western Michigan (32-21, 19-11)

Western Michigan is a sneaky good offensive team, as the Broncos finished 10th in the country with a .316 team batting average.

The Broncos are led offensively by First Team All-MAC selections 1B Cade Sullivan and DH CJ Richmond.

After earning Second Team All-MAC honors in 2022 and 2023, Sullivan was finally named First Team All-MAC in 2024. The first baseman hit for a .397 batting average, which ranked first in the conference and 19th in the country. He also slugged 15 doubles, 10 home runs, and brought home 52 RBI. Sullivan’s 38 career home runs are the most in Western Michigan program history.

Richmond made an immediate impact in his first season at WMU, hitting for a .384 average with 16 doubles, 13 home runs, and 64 RBI en route to a First Team All-MAC selection. His .384 average ranked second in the MAC, just behind teammate Cade Sullivan.

The pitching has been a bit of a problem for the Broncos, as their 5.50 team ERA ranks 95th in the country and their 1.52 WHIP ranks 89th. There however are some talented arms in the WMU rotation.

Right-hander Nolan Vlcek, who will likely start Friday’s game on the mound, was WMU’s lone pitching representation on the All-MAC teams. Vlcek sported a 5-3 record with a 4.15 ERA over 82 1/3 innings pitched. His 90 strikeouts ranked third in the MAC.

Playing competition as highly ranked as Kentucky will however be new territory for the Broncos, as they played just one Quad 1 team this season and lost (Florida State). Their only Top-100 RPI win came against Michigan (No. 84), who they defeated three times this season.

The 2024 NCAA Tournament will mark the 12th in Western Michigan program history. The Broncos have made six appearances in the College World Series, although all six appearances came from the span of 1952-1963. They finished as College World Series runner-ups in 1955.

Kentucky (40-14, 22-8)

For the first time in program history, Kentucky is hosting back-to-back Regionals and has made the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons.

Friday’s game marks the first step to a potential College World Series berth, a feat that has never been achieved by the Kentucky Baseball program. The Cats are the lone SEC team to never make an appearance in Omaha.

Although a starter has yet to be named by head coach Nick Mingione, right-hander Trey Pooser is likely to get the ball on Friday. Pooser has blossomed into Kentucky’s most reliable starter, posting a 4-1 record with a 3.86 ERA in 56 innings pitched.

Pooser starting gives Kentucky a good chance to open Regional play with a win, avoiding a disastrous immediate fall into the loser’s bracket. You’d then go with pitching by committee against the winner of Indiana State/Illinois.

The Cats had two players named All-SEC in left fielder Ryan Waldschmidt (.357 BA, 16 doubles, 13 home runs, 42 RBI) and designated hitter Nick Lopez (.369 BA, 20 doubles, six home runs, 49 RBI). Waldschmidt, who has led off all season long for the Cats, will be Kentucky’s X-Factor in the postseason.

In Kentucky wins where Waldschmidt started and led off, the left fielder is batting .420 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 37 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. In Kentucky losses where Waldschmidt started and led off, he hit just .212 with a double, two home runs, five RBI, and five stolen bases. It starts at the top. When Waldy’s on, the Cats are on. When he’s off, the Cats are in trouble.

Kentucky has hosted three regionals in program history (2006, 2017, 2023). The Cats have lost in their first or second game in all three Lexington Regionals, but ended up winning the Regional 2017 and 2023.

Reserved seating for Friday’s game sold out in just 25 minutes, so Kentucky may be breaking its attendance record once again in the Lexington Regional opener.

Probable Starters

ALL-TIME SERIES: Kentucky leads 15-3

Friday, May 31, 2024 (Kentucky Proud Park – 12:00 p.m. EST) SEC Network
UK: TBA vs WMU: TBD