By UK Athletics

Kentucky Loses Lead, Falls in NCAA Opener (W/ Photos)

Posted: May 31, 2025
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Vicky Graff Photo

In a season defined by near misses, Kentucky saw its NCAA opener read from the same script.

UK took a 3-0 lead after three innings then saw a pair of errors lead to two unearned two-out runs that shifted momentum and allowed West Virginia back into the game. The Mountaineers ultimately took advantage, walking off the Wildcats 4-3 to advance to the winner’s bracket of the Clemson Regional. The game was delayed two hours and 41 minutes by weather.

UK (29-25) now will have its season on the line Saturday against either Clemson or Upstate.

Kentucky jumped out early after Ryan Schwartz doubled off the wall, advanced to third on a Patrick Herrera single and scored on Kyuss Gargett’s squeeze bunt that turned into a single. After Herrera and Gargett executed a double steal, Devin Burkes bounced a ball up the middle that West Virginia got a glove on but threw wildly to first to bring home two.

West Virginia also benefitted from defensive miscues an inning later when a throwing error and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs. Ben Cleaver induced a slow roller that should have ended the inning but a wide throw to first couldn’t be handled and two runs came home. The Mountaineers tied it an inning later.

UK had several chances to reclaim the lead over the final few innings but could not before a leadoff double led to a passed ball and sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth for WVU.

NOTES

Kentucky is 29-25 on the season.
The loss ended a nine-game winning streak in the postseason vs. non-conference opponents.
UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 291-191 career record.
Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
UK is 52-55 in the month of May under Coach Mingione.
Mingione now is 12-9 in the NCAA Tournament.
He is 9-3 in four NCAA Regionals.
Mingione now is 1-1 vs. West Virginia.
OF Ryan Schwartz doubled and scored in his first NCAA game. He also walked.
INF Tyler Bell walked twice.
He has reached in 52 of 54 career games.
LHP Ben Cleaver pitched 6.0 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits, striking out five.
Cleaver has seven total quality starts this season, including three straight.