Kentucky baseball advances to program’s second super regional with win over Indiana
Kentucky baseball advanced to the second super regional in program history with a 4-2 win over Indiana in a winner-take-all regional finals Monday at Kentucky Proud Park.
Playing in front of a program record 6,796 fans, Kentucky completed its improbable rally from the losers’ bracket, winning its third elimination game in two days. The Wildcats followed the same path as the 2017 Kentucky team did six years ago to reach the program’s first super regional in Nick Mingione’s first season as head coach.
The Wildcats and Hoosiers looked on the verge of turning Monday’s game into a slugfest after combining for four runs in the first two innings, but both starting pitchers, throwing on short rest, settled down from there. Kentucky’s breakthrough came in the sixth inning against Indiana starter Ty Bothwell, who threw 97 pitches three days after throwing 48 pitches in Indiana’s regional-opening win over West Virginia.
Here is what you need to know about the game.
Turning point
With the score tied at two in the bottom of the sixth inning, star catcher Devin Burkes led off the frame with a double then moved to second on a groundout from second baseman Emilien Pitre. First baseman Hunter Gilliam gave Kentucky its second lead of the game with a double down the third-base line then scored on a double from left fielder Ryan Waldschmidt.
On the mound
Seventh-year senior Darren Williams, normally a multi-inning relief specialist for the Wildcats, made the start two days after throwing one inning in Kentucky’s Saturday loss to Indiana. Kentucky’s coaching staff had used Williams only once per week this season as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery, but the 25-year-old right-handed pitcher was able to pitch for a second time in the regional after throwing 27 pitches Saturday.
Williams was not at peak form, giving up single runs in the first two innings and pitching out of multiple jams, but was able to gut his way through four innings. Sophomore Mason Moore, who pitched five perfect innings in the Wildcats’ Friday win over Ball State, relieved Williams, adding five more scoreless frames to his regional tally to close out the game.
At least one Indiana batter reached base in each of the first seven innings, but Williams and Moore were able to work around trouble, stranding eight Hoosiers on base. Moore appeared to grow stronger as the game progressed, recording two of his five strikeouts in the last two innings.
At the plate
Kentucky tallied just six hits in the game, but Burkes continued his scorching hot regional with two more hits and a walk. Gilliam drove in two runs.
One day after hitting four home runs in a 16-6 blowout of Indiana, Kentucky returned to its small-ball roots in the first inning with a single, two walks and two sacrifice flies to take an early 2-1 lead. The Wildcats struck out 10 times in the game and reached base only once via hit-by-pitch after being hit nine times in Sunday’s game.
What’s next
Kentucky will face No. 5 overall seed LSU in a best-of-three super regional in Baton Rouge this weekend. Game times will be announced later this week.
The Wildcats will bring some confidence to the series after playing LSU close in an April series in Baton Rouge. UK was blown out 16-6 in the first game of that series but rallied to win 13-10 in game two and was tied at six in the eighth inning of the rubber match before falling 7-6. The Tigers feature two likely top-five picks in the 2023 MLB Draft in outfielder Dylan Crews and right-handed starter Paul Skenes.
This story was originally published June 5, 2023 at 8:59 PM.