Baseball Cats Prepared to Bounce Back on Saturday
Kentucky jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Friday in the NCAA Baseball Clemson Regional against West Virginia. However, the Cats saw the Mountaineers tie the game, then later win it, 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth.
Now, the Cats take the field on Saturday against USC Upstate with the season on the line. One more loss in this regional will end Kentucky’s season, a fact that senior Patrick Herrera is well aware of with Saturday’s elimination game on deck.
“Everyone knows what’s at stake tomorrow,” Herrera said. “Just got to move on as quick as we can. It’s win or go home so just got to come out tomorrow and execute a little better. But we’re ready to go.”
Things looked good for UK early on Friday. With one out in the top of the fourth inning, freshman Ryan Schwartz doubled to right center field before Patrick Herrera blooped a single to center, giving the Cats runners at the corners. Kyuss Gargett then popped up a bunt, but WVU starting pitcher Griffin Kirn’s attempt to catch the bunt in the air came up short, and Schwartz scored. In addition, Herrera was safe at second and Gargett reached first.
The Cats were not done. Carson Hansen struck out, but Herrera stole third and Gargett stole second. Devin Burkes then grounded a ball up the middle that Mountaineers’ shortstop Brodie Kresser fielded but threw away at first base, allowing both runners to score, giving UK a 3-0 lead.
However, the Cats were unable to manufacture any runs outside of that frame. UK head coach Nick Mingione credited Kirn for having an outstanding day.
“Give their starter a lot of credit,” Mingione said. “You sit out there for 100 and whatever pitches…”
Kentucky will face USC Upstate on Saturday in an elimination game. The Cats and the Spartans did not play this season, but UK opened its season in Spartanburg last season, sweeping a three-game set from the Spartans.
USC Upstate lost to Clemson in Friday’s second game. The Spartans came into the weekend second in the nation is scoring (9.7 runs per game) and in the top 20 in home runs (99 entering the weekend).
If the Cats are to extend their season, they will need to be ready for a powerful offense in USC Upstate, and the Cats will need to execute their plan like their season depends on it. Because, after falling on Friday, it does.
