The Wildcats stave off elimination for three straight games, advance to Super Regional
LEXINGTON, Ky. – June 5, 2023
Kentucky baseball is super.
The Wildcats (40-19) emerged as the Lexington Regional champion by winning three games in 36 hours, capping it off with a 4-2 victory over Indiana on Monday night at Kentucky Proud Park in front of a crowd of 6,796 thundering fans, the largest crowd to ever attend a UK home baseball game.
Sophomore Mason Moore pitched the final five innings, part of his 10 scoreless innings in the regional while catcher Devin Burkes scored the game-winning run on his way to earning Most Outstanding Player of the regional.
This is Kentucky’s second-ever trip to a Super Regional, both in the last six seasons under Coach Nick Mingione. Kentucky won the regional the hard way. After losing to Indiana on Saturday, the Wildcats came out of the losers bracket to defeat West Virginia and Indiana on Sunday, then beat the Hoosiers again Monday. Kentucky advances to a Super Regional in Baton Rouge against No. 5 national seed LSU, which swept its home regional this weekend. The Super Regional is best two-of-three format and will begin Friday or Saturday.
With the game tied at 2-2, UK catcher Devin Burkes opened the bottom of the sixth inning with a double down the left field line. One out later, Gilliam also doubled down the left field line to break the tie. After a pitching change, leftfielder Ryan Waldschmidt doubled to rightcenter, scoring Gilliam to notch what became the final score of the game.
Meanwhile, Moore entered in the fifth inning and blanked the Hoosiers the rest of the way. He allowed four singles, struck out five and walked one, earning the victory to improve to 4-1 on the season. Moore turned in an incredible performance in the regional, as he also threw five shutout innings in relief to win the Friday opener against Ball State.
NOTES
- UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his seventh season at the helm and now owns a 216-148 career record.
- UK is 8-4 in the month of June under Coach Mingione.
- Mingione is 8-4 in the NCAA Tournament, 7-2 in the Regional round.
- Mingione now is 7-2 vs. Indiana.
- UK is 23-4 in non-conference games this season.
NCAA BASEBALL LEXINGTON ALL-REGION TEAM
Catcher: Devin Burkes, Kentucky (Most Outstanding Player)
First Baseman: Hunter Gilliam, Kentucky
Second Baseman: JJ Wetherholt, WVU
Shortstop: Phillip Glasser, Indiana
Third Baseman: Jase Felker, Kentucky
Left Fielder: Ryan Waldschmidt, Kentucky
Center Fielder: Bobby Whalen, Indiana
Right Fielder: Nolan McCarthy, Kentucky
Designated Hitter: Carter Mathison, Indiana
Pitcher: Austin Strickland, Kentucky
Pitcher: Mason Moore, Kentucky
ON DECK
Kentucky will face LSU in Baton Rouge, La. In the Super Regional.