LSU rolls over Kentucky baseball after long delay in opening game of NCAA super regional
It turns out the seven-hour weather delay was actually the most enjoyable part of the first day of Kentucky baseball’s NCAA Tournament super regional for the Wildcats.
After waiting until after 10 p.m. to start a game that was originally scheduled for 3 p.m., Kentucky was dominated by LSU on the way to a 14-0 loss in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Wildcats will face an elimination game Sunday needing to win to stay alive in the best-of-three series.
Here is what you need to know about the game.
Turning point
Kentucky’s offense never looked up to the challenge of scoring against likely top-five MLB Draft pick Paul Skenes, but the score was at least close for the first two innings. That changed in the third when LSU third baseman Tommy White and first baseman Tre’ Morgan hit back-to-back home runs to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead. The blast was Morgan’s second home run of the game.
Any lingering hope of the comeback was ended two innings later when LSU plated six runs in the fifth while chasing Kentucky starter Zack Lee from the game.
On the mound
Unlike in the regular-season series at LSU when UK head coach Nick Mingione elected to throw a bullpen game against Skenes, Kentucky started Lee, the Wildcats’ most effective starting pitcher in the regular season, against the SEC Pitcher of the Year. That strategy worked little better than the bullpen game in April, which had contributed to a 16-6 loss.
Lee surrendered nine runs, six of which were earned, on nine hits in four-plus innings. With the game out of hand in the fifth, Mingione elected to save his best relief arms, calling on the little-used Christian Howe and Seth Logue to finish out the game. The pair had combined for just 19 innings entering the game.
At the plate
Kentucky has plenty of company in struggling against Skenes, the top-ranked pitcher in the 2023 MLB Draft class, this season, but any optimism resulting from the fact Kentucky scored more earned runs than any other team against him in the regular season quickly proved misplaced. The Wildcats managed just four hits in 7 2/3 innings against Skenes while striking out nine times and walking once.
No Kentucky batter tallied multiple hits. Only two Wildcats reached second base.
What’s next
The good news for Kentucky is the Wildcats have plenty of experience playing with their backs against the wall. After losing its second game to Indiana last week, UK rallied to win the regional with victories in three consecutive elimination games. That refusal to quit will be put to the test again Sunday with one more loss ending the season.
After falling 16-6 to LSU in the first game of the April series, Kentucky did bounce back with a 13-10 win in the second. The Wildcats will look for a similar performance Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 6:06 p.m.
This weekend
Kentucky at LSU
What: NCAA Baseball Tournament super regional
When: Saturday through Monday
Where: Alex Box Stadium (capacity 10,326) at Baton Rouge, La.
Format: Best-of-three series
At stake: Winner advances to College World Series June 15-26 at Omaha, Neb.
Baton Rouge Super Regional schedule
Saturday — LSU 14, Kentucky 0
Sunday — Game 2 (6:06 p.m., ESPN2)
Monday (if necessary) — Game 3 (Time, TV TBA)
This story was originally published June 11, 2023 at 7:18 AM.