Mason Moore's Flu Game helped Kentucky win the Lexington Regional

Not even a stomach bug can stop Mason Moore. Kentucky’s right-handed ace threw six shutout innings to help the Cats beat Indiana State 5-0 to clinch the Lexington Regional, just 24 hours after being too sick to be at the ballpark.

Moore woke up with a stomachache on Saturday morning before the Cats’ game vs. Illinois. He tried to come to Kentucky Proud Park but the coaches sent him home, where trainers hooked him up to fluids and told him to take it easy.

“It kind of hit me yesterday right before the game in the morning I had a stomach bug,” Moore told reporters last night. “Richie and the trainer, they got me right. They put two bags of IVs in my arm yesterday.

“There was a little doubt I wasn’t able to go because of how bad I was in the morning. But like I said, the trainers did a really good job of getting me healthy. Like I said, I went home and just rested. The coaches, they made me leave. I wanted to stay and watch the game but the trainers, they made me leave.”

Two IV bags and a 6-1 win vs. Illinois later, Moore finally felt better on Saturday night. He immediately texted Nick Mingione to let him know he was ready to roll Sunday vs. Indiana State.

“At 7:36 my phone goes off,” Mingione said. “It’s a text message from Mason. This is what he said: ‘Here we go!’ That’s what he said. ‘Just to update you, I’m feeling better and back to normal. I’m ready to throw and win us a ball game tomorrow, Coach.’

“That’s what he said. That’s what he said. Want to to know my reply? ‘Got it. Get some rest. I can’t wait to watch you,’ in all caps, “DOMINATE tomorrow. Call me if you need anything.’ I went to bed knowing, it made me feel real good. I slept real good.”

Moore did dominate. Despite feeling queasy during warm-ups, Moore had six shutout innings, which takes his career total of scoreless innings in NCAA Tournament games to 20.1. He allowed four hits, walked three, and struck out six en route to his ninth win on the mound, the second most by a Kentucky pitcher in the Nick Mingione era.

The junior from Morehead, Kentucky is especially good in postseason games at Kentucky Proud Park, leading the Cats past Ball State and Indiana in last season’s regional and now, past Indiana State to the Super Regional. Moore credited the crowd for helping him tough it out.

“It was huge tonight. I could tell a little bit in warmups I wasn’t feeling the greatest. But BBN showing out really, and family and friends coming out, really wanting me to perform good. I think that helps out with adrenaline because I wasn’t obviously at my best. I think with all that it helped me get through the game today.”

With either Oregon State or UC Irvine coming to town this weekend, let’s make sure Moore stays healthy and hydrated.

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