Kentucky baseball blows three-run, ninth-inning lead to West Virginia
Kentucky baseball’s lack of pitching depth finally proved too much for its resilient offense to overcome Sunday.
After twice rallying from three-run deficits earlier in the game, Kentucky blew a three-run, ninth-inning lead in an 11-9 loss to West Virginia. With the ninth-inning rally, West Virginia forced a winner-take-all game for the NCAA Tournament regional Monday.
Key moment
Kentucky appeared on the verge of clinching a third super regional appearance in four years when third baseman Caedan Cloud committed an error that allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base in the ninth inning. Right-handed reliever Nile Adcock had shut down the West Virginia offense over the previous three innings then appeared to run out of gas with a walk and single to load the bases.
Left-handed reliever Jackson Soucie threw four straight balls to the only batter he faced to force in the first run. Right-handed reliever Oliver Boone, who had not pitched since May 1, surrendered a sacrifice fly that pulled the Mountaineers within one run. He then balked in the tying run.
West Virginia center fielder Paul Schoenfield launched a two-run home run off Boone to right field to give the Mountaineers the lead.
At the plate
UK right fielder Braxton VanCleave and center fielder Jayce Tharnish each tallied three hits in the game. Tharnish scored three times and homered. Shortstop Tyler Bell launched two solo home runs and scored three times. Second baseman Ethan Hindle, VanCleave and Bell all drove in multiple runs.
The offense sent a message that West Virginia’s early lead would not be enough with two runs in the first inning thanks to a bases-loaded walk from Hindle and a single from VanCleave. Designated hitter Luke Lawrence tied the game at 3-3 in the second inning with a single that plated Tharnish.
Hindle scored on a fielder’s choice from left fielder Carson Hanson in the third inning. Bell led off the fourth inning with a home run. Hindle drove home designated hitter Luke Lawrence with a single. VanCleave then gave the Wildcats the lead with a single that plated Hindle.
Tharnish and Bell launched back-to-back home runs in the seventh.
On the mound
Kentucky starter Ben Cleaver recorded just one out before being pulled after walking three batters and hitting two more. He was charged with three runs. Right-handed reliever Ira Austin allowed just one inherited runner to score after entering the first with the bases loaded and one out.
Relievers Chase Alderman and Adcock shut down the West Virginia offense for most of the second half of the game before the ninth inning disaster. Alderman surrendered one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Adcock entered with two on and no outs in the sixth inning and struck out two batters with the bases loaded to escape without surrendering a run.
What’s next
Kentucky and West Virginia will meet again on Monday at 6 p.m. in a winner-take-all game for the regional. The victor will likely host a super regional next week with No. 3 seed Cal Poly and No. 4 seed Saint Mary’s still alive in the Los Angeles regional after the elimination of No. 1 overall seed UCLA.
Sunday’s loss brings back bad memories for Kentucky, which blew two separate five-run leads to be eliminated by West Virginia in the regional final last season. Kentucky will almost certainly need multiple innings from ace Jaxon Jelkin, who threw six innings on Friday, to advance.
Television information for Monday’s game will be set after the conclusion of Sunday’s tournament games.
This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 9:24 PM.