Magic runs out for Kentucky baseball in NCAA Tournament regional loss to WVU
Kentucky baseball finally ran out of magic in its third consecutive NCAA Tournament elimination game.
A season-long struggle to close out wins appeared for one final time as the Wildcats blew two different five-run leads in what ended up as a 13-12 loss to West Virginia that ended the season two victories short of a third consecutive super regional appearance.
Here is what you need to know from the game.
KEY MOMENT
The Wildcats led 6-1 in the middle of the fourth inning before surrendering six runs and the lead in the bottom of the frame. Still, UK rallied to take a 12-7 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning before the cumulative toll of a decimated pitching staff showed up.
West Virginia loaded the bases with two outs against redshirt freshman Tommy Skelding before scoring the first run of the inning with a bases-loaded walk. Nick Mingione would then make the first of three pitching changes in the inning, but West Virginia followed with three consecutive singles. The Mountaineers took a 13-12 lead on a single from third baseman Armani Guzman, the same player who gave West Virginia a walk-off win with a ninth inning sacrifice fly in Friday’s game against Kentucky.
AT THE PLATE
For much of the night, it looked like Kentucky’s offense would be able to overcome the pitching limitations that come from trying to advance through the losers’ bracket. A four-run second inning, highlighted by two-run singles from designated hitter Hudson Brown and catcher Devin Burkes, set the tone early. After blowing the 6-1 lead in the fourth inning, Brown tied the game with another RBI single. He added a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Burkes added a solo home run in the eighth.
Second baseman Luke Lawrence, left fielder Cole Hage, center fielder Carson Hansen, Brown and Burkes all tallied multiple hits in the game. Brown and Burkes each scored three runs. Hage joined Brown and Burkes with three RBIs in the game.
ON THE MOUND
Senior right-handed pitcher Scott Rouse, who had been used as a multi-inning reliever for much of the season but started the final midweek game of the season and the SEC Tournament loss to Oklahoma, held his own through three innings before being forced out of the game in the fourth inning. He was charged with six runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Kentucky was likely counting on left-handed reliever Jackson Nove to pitch multiple innings entering the game but he faced just three hitters without recording an out before being removed during the six-run fourth inning. Right-hander Simon Gregersen stopped the bleeding, then added two more scoreless innings to give Kentucky hope.
None of Kentucky’s next five pitchers had thrown more than 18 innings all season entering the game, though. Skelding was charged with four of the five runs scored in the inning. Nile Adcock, James McCoy and Hagen Smith all pitched in the eighth without recording an out before senior lefty Evan Byers ended the inning with a bases-loaded strikeout to give Kentucky hope of a ninth-inning rally. That rally never materialized with Kentucky unable to even get a final runner in scoring position.
WHAT’S NEXT
Kentucky’s season ends at 31-26. Reaching the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season for the first time in program history is an accomplishment worth celebrating after Mingione had to replace almost every key player from the 2024 College World Series team, but there is work to do to build on this season. The good news is there is an impressive young core to build around, led by freshman shortstop Tyler Bell and sophomore ace Ben Cleaver, as long as Kentucky can hold off what is sure to be transfer portal interest from powerhouse programs.
