Kentucky Baseball’s hopes of advancing to the Super Regionals were dashed on Saturday night when a five‑run ninth inning by West Virginia turned an 11‑9 lead into an 11‑9 loss.
A Late Collapse
The Mountaineers erupted in the final frame, scoring five runs on a combination of singles, a fielding miscue and a two‑run homer by Paul Schoenfeld that put them ahead. Earlier, Kentucky had taken a 7‑6 lead in the fourth, highlighted by a solo homer from Jayce Tharnish in the seventh that extended the margin to two.
Key Performances
Jayce Tharnish paced the Wildcats with a 3‑for‑4 effort, adding a solo homer in the seventh and driving in a run earlier in the game. Tyler Bell matched his teammate’s power surge, going 2‑for‑5 with two solo homers, while Braxton Van Cleave contributed two RBI in a 3‑for‑5 showing. On the mound, Ben Cleaver’s rough start — walking three straight batters — set the stage for West Virginia’s rally, but relief pitchers Chase Alderman and Nile Adcock limited the damage, combining for just one hit over three innings.
What’s Next
Kentucky now faces a winner‑take‑all Game Seven on Monday, a chance to rebound against the same West Virginia squad that forced the dramatic finish. The upcoming contest will hinge on whether the Wildcats can regroup after the ninth‑inning collapse and whether their pitchers can shut down a Mountaineers offense that has shown resilience all weekend. The University of Kentucky and West Virginia University will meet again, each looking to advance to the Super Regionals.