LEXINGTON, Ky. — Darren Williams was well aware of the stakes when he took the mound for the first time on Monday night right before Kentucky's 4-2 win over Indiana.  Not only did his seven-year career hang in the balance, but so did Kentucky's season, which was just one win away from claiming an NCAA Tournament Lexington Regional, but also one loss away from going kaput.  The ball was literally and figuratively in his hand. The righty had the power to be the reason Kentucky's season extended a week, or the reason that it ended. It was only fitting that the "old man" had a part in th ..read more

If Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione and the Wildcats are true to their word, then Monday night's Lexington Regional win over Indiana has indeed expired.  "Tonight we'll celebrate," he said after the 4-2 victory. "But then I even had one of my players come up to me, tomorrow, 'Coach, after midnight this is over. I've got day-two lift tomorrow.' Austin Strickland's trying to get into the weight room. I'll figure out the schedule." The Wildcats are on to only the second Super Regional in program history after winning three games in a row in front of Big Blue Nation at Kentucky Proud Park. T ..read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky catcher Devin Burkes continues to shine in postseason play.  After leading the Wildcats on a deep run in the 2022 SEC Tournament, the redshirt sophomore provided a six-hit Lexington Regional in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, belting two home runs while driving in seven runs.  He started a sixth-inning rally in Kentucky's 4-2 win over Indiana on Monday night, striping a double down the left-field line to lead off the frame, leading to the Cats scoring the final two runs of the game.  As a result, he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Regional. Burke ..read more

Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione, catcher Devin Burkes, first baseman Hunter Gilliam and pitchers Mason Moore and Darren Williams spoke to reporters following the Wildcats' 4-2 win over Indiana, punching a ticket to a Super Regional.  The presser can be seen above.  A game recap can be found HERE. Game recap of Kentucky's 4-0 win over Ball State can be found HERE. Game recap of Indiana's 5-3 win over the Wildcats can be found HERE. Game recap of Kentucky's 10-0 win over West Virginia can be found HERE. Game recap of Kentucky's 16-6 win over Indiana can be found HERE. For a complete ..read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — For the second time in program history, Kentucky baseball is headed to a Super Regional.  In what was a tense affair in front of a sold-out Kentucky Proud Park crowd that totaled 6,794, the Wildcats protected home turf against border-rivals Indiana in a 4-2 thriller, winning the NCAA Tournament Lexington Regional win-or-go-home finale.  Three doubles from Devin Burkes, Hunter Gilliam and Ryan Waldschmidt broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth, finally breaking Indiana starting pitcher Ty Bothwell, who had allowed just one hit through five innings.  After Ken ..read more

The winner of Monday night's winner-take-all battle in the Bluegrass will head to the Bayou.  As Kentucky and Indiana square off for the Lexington Regional title, LSU has defeated Oregon State 13-7 to win the Baton Rouge Regional, advancing to a Super Regional. The winner of the matchup between the Wildcats and Hoosiers will play the Tigers next weekend at Alex Box Stadium.  LSU, the No. 5 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, defeated Tulane, then Oregon State twice to win its Regional. It will get to stay home, as it waits either a familiar foe from earlier in the season, or a ..read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The difference between starting out 2-0 vs. 1-1 in an NCAA Tournament Regional is staggering.  In a flash, the road to supers goes from one more win to three more, all of which have to come in a row. It takes a toll, mentally and physically, primarily on the pitching staff.  Making decisions on who to bring in to pitch in a certain situation is hard enough for a head coach before the weekend even begins. What to do when you back is against the wall, however, is an ever harder hurdle to climb.  Coaches like Nick Mingione make the kind of money they do for the cou ..read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Believe it or not, there's an art to getting hit by a pitch.  Cleats firmly placed on the inside chalk — or in Kentucky Proud Park's case, paint — of the batter's box, daring the pitcher toeing the rubber to challenge you with an inside fastball. Forcing a wild arm to try and hurl a strike, knowing good and well it's about to end up drilling your lower back, arm or thigh.  A few seconds of stinging pain for a free base. It's a trade some find easy to make, while others quiver. Those who favor the latter don't have a spot on the 2023 Kentucky baseball team.  In t ..read more

Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione, first baseman Hunter Gilliam and right fielder Nolan McCarthy spoke to reporters following the Wildcats' 16-6 win over Indiana on Sunday night, forcing a winner-take-all game on Monday against the Hoosiers.  The press conference can be seen above.  A game recap of the win can be found HERE. Game recap of Kentucky's 4-0 win over Ball State can be found HERE, while more on reliever Mason Moore can be found HERE. Game recap of Indiana's 5-3 win over the Wildcats can be found HERE. Game recap of Kentucky's 10-0 win over West Virginia can be found HERE ..read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. —  Hours removed from a 10-0 win over West Virginia, an adrenaline dump would've felt totally reasonable for Kentucky.  Instead, the Wildcats, who collected 14 hits, mistook their bats for lightning rods, as Indiana, the same team that defeated UK on Saturday night, offered up a whopping nine hit batsmen and four walks, leading to a dominant 16-6 victory. The 16 runs are the most in an NCAA Tournament game for UK in program history, besting a 14-run performance in 2017, which coincidentally also came against Indiana in Lexington. The nine HBPs from Hoosier pitching was ..read more