UK Baseball vs. Kansas Live-Diary

It's been an up and down season but here we are. After making the SEC Tournament semi-finals, Kentucky Baseball and POY AJ Reed are the #2 seed in UofL Regional, facing Kansas today and potentially UofL tomorrow. As for the game today, Nick Jourdan and I are here at Patterson Stadium, and we'll be bringing you updates as the BatCats look to take down Kansas in the first matchup of the day. On the mound is Sophomore Kyle Cody (4-0, 2.65 ERA), who will look to give the 'Cats their first NCAA post-season win since 2012's Gary, Indiana series. (Dean Bowling- 2:12) It's raining, a lot. Usually this wouldn't be too big of an issue for us but Nick and I are seated outside. As of right now, despite the rain, it sounds like the game is still scheduled to begin at 2:31 ET. We'll keep you updated. (Nick Jourdan- 2:26) First pitch is away for Kyle Cody to Kansas' Justin Protacio is a ball, and we are underway under this fickle Louisville weather. (Nick Jourdan- 2:33) Not a great start to the game for the Cats, as they already have an error and a few other miscues. Kansas takes a 1-0 lead, with a runner on third, and only one out. (Nick Jourdan- 2:35) Scratch that, double to left scores another Jayhawk to give KU a 2-0 lead over the Cats in the first. (Mrs. Tyler - 2:45) Aaaand, we're back on rain delay, with the score at 3-0. Nick, David, and Dean are taking cover in the press box: https://twitter.com/NJ_KSR/status/472448668508110848 This delay is a great opportunity for the Cats to calm down and regroup. (Mrs. Tyler - 3:08) The tarp is off the mound and the game is scheduled to pick back up at 3:20 p.m. (Nick Jourdan- 3:22) Finally back out to our perch outside, HOWEVER the game will not restart again at 3:20. A storm is apparently within 8 miles of the stadium with lightning, so this could be a while folks before we see anything. Oh, and the power strip they have set up for us is pretty water-logged from that last storm, so I pity the next person that plugs into it. (Nick Jourdan- 3:33) Start time announced for 3:40 again here at the ballpark. Also, the water soaked power strip in question: (Dean Bowling- 3:40) Game is finally starting back up. Looks like the 'Cats will put Andrew Nelson on the mound. Runner still on 3rd, only one out. (Dean Bowling- 3:48) Andrew Nelson comes in and strikes out two batters to get UK out of the inning. Kansas leads 3-0 heading into the B1st; Cousino, Kuhn, and Reed due up for UK. (Nick Jourdan- 4:00)A 3-run, one out shot over the RF wall by Ka'ai Tom scored Kuhn (who doubled), and Reed (who walked) to tie the game back up at 3-3 after one complete. (Dean Bowling- 4:17 ) After a strike-out and ground-out, Nelson walked back-to-back batters. Next batter, Suiter, would single in a run to give Kansas a 4-3 lead. Another shallow single loaded the bases for Tharp, who would drive in two more runs, giving Kansas a 6-3 lead. After a ground-out, UK heads to the B2nd down three. (Nick Jourdan- 4:23 ) Bernal pop's one up, Reida strikes out, and JaVon Shelby strikes out as well to end the inning in order. Still 6-3 KU lead. (Dean Bowling- 4:32) Another two-out walk gave Kansas some life in the T3rd, but a ground-out to 1st gets UK out of the inning. Still trail 6-3 headed to the bottom of the 3rd. Top of the order (Cousino, Kuhn, Reed) for the 'Cats. (Nick Jourdan- 4:39) Inning start's out w/ a stand-up double for Cousino. A wild pitch then gets him to third, and then another scores him. Kuhn is then walked, then A.J. Reed strikes out immediately after. Then unfortunately Tom hits into a double play to end the Kentucky assault. KU up with a 6-4 lead after three. (Dean Bowling- 4:54) Just like the previous two innings, Nelson got two easy outs before giving up a hit. Luckily for Kentucky, Bernal made a great scoop on the throw for JaVon to get the third out of the inning, leaving the runner stranded. Heading into the B4th, 'Cats trail 6-4. Also, quick shoutout to former KSR writer John Wilmhoff who's using the live-blog to follow the game because ESPN3 isn't authorized where he works (ESPN headquarters) (Nick Jourdan 5:07 ) Thomas led off for the Big Blue, where he slapped one into dead-center field. Then Kuhn lays down a bunt that sends the ball rolling across the artificial turf to give him first base. Wilson then singles himself on to first to load the bases with no outs. Bernal then AGAIN slaps another up the middle to score two Cats, tying the game back up. Reida and Shelby then would hit two fly-balls, and then Bernal steals second to get in scoring position. Bernal then gets tagged out after running over third base to end the inning. 6-6 tie after four complete. (Dean Bowling- 5:15) After a 1-2-3 inning for Nelson it begins pouring again. It'll be the bottom of the bottom of the 5th whenever it stops raining. From what we've heard, this game HAS to completed today, so we may be here a while. (Nick Jourdan- 6:57) FINALLY....FINALLY about to start back up again. New start time now set for 7:10. (Nick Jourdan- 7:18)  The Cats started back up with Max Kuhn leading off, where he hit a single out to left field. Reed then came up and hit a fly-ball out to left field (OUT 1). Tom then hit a fly-ball of his own out to left-center field (OUT 2). Thomas then popped one up to the left field base line for out number three. (Dean Bowling- 7:30 ) On the mound for UK was Chandler Shepherd (3.36 ERA, 5-4). Andrew Nelson finished the day with a line of 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 K and 3 BB. After giving up a lead off walk, Shep would get a Kansas batter to pop out to center for the first out of the inning. Kansas would barely avoid a double-play next at bat, but another pop fly to center would get UK out of the inning with the game still tied 6-6. (Nick Jourdan- 7:40) Wilson led off the bottom of the 6th by getting waked down to 1st. Bernal then laid down a sac. bunt to advance Wilson to second (OUT 1). Wilson then was able to get to third off of a wild pitch. Reida then hit a shallow fly-out, which Wilson then was thrown out by a mile trying to score at home. Still a 6-6 tie after six complete. (Dean Bowling- 7:50) Once again, Kansas lead off the inning with a single. Next batter, Tharp, doubled off of the left field fence to give Kansas a 7-6 lead. A perfectly placed bunt put runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs. Next batter, McKay, would ground into a double play, scoring the runner on 3rd, giving Kansas an 8-6 lead. After another ground out, UK would head into the B7th down 8-6. (Nick Jourdan- 7:57) Shelby led it off for UK in the B7th with a strike out, putting him to 0-2 on the day (OUT 1). Cousino then came up for the top of the order, where he sent a deep fly-ball caught out in center field (OUT 2). Kuhn then came up and popped one out to right field to end the 7th inning for the Cats, still down 8-6 to KU. (Nick Jourdan- 8:13) Much like every other opening at-bat for KU, the Jayhawks got a runner on to start it out, this time unfortunately for the Cats it turned out to be a triple. KU's Protacio got a single that scored Mirabelli to give Kansas a 9-6 lead with no outs. Not long after, Gary made the walk out to the mound to talk to Big Shep. Wright then hit a double to the gap to advance the Jayhawk runner. The cats finally stopped the bleeding a little on pop-fly to Shelby on 2nd (1 OUT). Shepherd then threw a wild one in the dirt to score Protacio from third to increase the KU lead to 10-6. Right after, Shep was able to strike out Afenir at the plate (OUT 2). KU's Tharp the popped one out to the right field foul line to end the T8'th for KU, but not before they got two more runs to push the game to 10-6. (Nick Jourdan- 8:24 ) Reed led off the bottom of the 8th, where he was walked to first. Tom then hit a deep shot to CF, which was caught for the first out (OUT 1). KU then switched pitchers to Villines, who was able to get Thomas to almost hit in to a double play, however they were not able to get the ball to first fast enough to convert it (OUT 2). Wison then came up to bat, where he was struck out to end the B8'th for the Cats. Kansas still with a 10-6 lead heading into the final inning. (Nick Jourdan- 8:31) Shepherd started out the T9'th right by striking out KU's McKay (1 OUT). Then, the next KU batter Eldredge hit a fly-ball to center field that was caught for an out (OUT 2). Finally, KU's Pidhaichuk was struck out on a full count to end it for the Jayhawks. They lead 10-6 heading into the bottom of the 9th. (Nick Jourdan- 8:41 ) Bernal led it off for the Cats in the bottom of the 9th, where he grounded out to first (OUT 1). Reida then came up to bat next for the Cats, where he was able to hit a double out to right field. Barret came to bat next, where he flew out to center field (OUT 2). Finally, Cousino went up to bat, where his last ditch effort ended in a fly-out to left field to end the game as KU wins 10-6. A quick recap will be up here momentarily. Stay around if your not too depressed.