'Postseason Luke': Lawrence Strikes Again on Saturday
After taking a fastball at 97 miles per hour to his knee on Friday, the status of Kentucky senior second baseman Luke Lawrence was day-to-day before Saturday’s game against West Virginia. However, nothing was going to keep the former hockey player out of the lineup on Saturday night.
Playing with a pad over his left knee and after having undergone over four hours of treatment just to be able to play, Lawrence was not only able to be in the lineup, he delivered as the Cats beat the Mountaineers 11-9 at Kendrick Family Ballpark in Morgantown.
In the first inning, Lawrence had a productive at-bat, grounding out to the right side, but advancing two runners into scoring position. Those runners, Jayce Tharnish and Tyler Bell, would score on an Ethan Hindle single, part of a four-run first inning for the Cats.
Then in the second inning, with one out, Lawrence came to the plate with runners on first and second. He laced a double to right-center field, scoring Tharnish to extend the UK lead to 5-0.
West Virginia rallied and tied the game on two occasions, including at 8-8 in the seventh. In the bottom of the eighth with the game still tied, Lawrence came to the plate with the bases loaded, and he did what he does in the postseason – he delivered again. The left-handed hitter scorched a single to left field, driving in the go-ahead run. Kentucky would not trail again.
LUUUUUUKEE!
He does it again!
Cats lead 9-8. pic.twitter.com/QyPAoyTdlg
— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) May 31, 2026
Lawrence was 2-for-5 on Saturday, driving in two runs and extending his legendary NCAA Tournament resume in the process. Last season, Lawrence was named to the Clemson Regional All-Tournament Team after hitting .389 in the tournament with two doubles, four runs scored and an RBI. In this season’s Morgantown Regional, Lawrence is hitting .286 with two runs knocked in and a run scored. All while playing on an injured leg.
After the game, UK head coach Nick Mingione had high praise for Lawrence.
“I cannot say enough good things about Luke,” Mingione said. “What he did for our team last night and what he did for our team today. I have watched this guy literally put his body on the line for Kentucky.”
Mingione admires how Lawrence has worked his way up the ranks and onto college baseball’s highest level.
“What he means to Kentucky, he epitomizes what it means to be a Wildcat,” Mingione said. “This guy would do anything to help Kentucky win. His journey started out at a Division III school to the biggest stage in college baseball and doing it when it matters the most. I just cannot say enough about him.”
Lawrence showed his toughness on Saturday and continued to be an NCAA Tournament standout for the second consecutive season.
