By UK Athletics

Ethan Walker Dazzles to Extend UK’s Season (W/ Photos)

Posted: June 1, 2025
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Vicky Graff Photo

Its season on the line, Kentucky put its trust in Ethan Walker.

The junior left-hander repaid the coaching staff with his best performance of the season in leading the Wildcats to a 7-3 elimination game victory over Upstate at Doug Kinsmore Stadium in the Clemson Regional. The Cats extended their season another day and on Sunday will face the loser of Saturday night’s Clemson/West Virginia matchup in another elimination game.

Walker was sensational when the Cats (30-25) needed it most. He entered in a tie game in the fifth inning and tossed 5.0 shutout frames to close out the game, striking out a season-best seven along the way. He did not allow a hit until two outs in the ninth inning.

UK jumped ahead right away with a two-out rally in the first inning. Cole Hage wore a pitch off the knee, James McCoy had a two-out hit and then Carson Hansen blasted a three-run opposite field home run through the wind to give the Cats a 3-0 lead.

Upstate responded with conviction in the fourth, scoring three runs to wipe out UK’s early lead. The inning was defined by Upstate twice turning an 0-2 mistake pitch into a double, including a two-run bases loaded gapper.

But UK reclaimed the lead in the sixth on Patrick Herrera’s well-executed squeeze bunt and then added three more in the eighth, including Hudson Brown’s two-out, bases loaded, two-run single.

NOTES

Kentucky is 30-25 on the season.
UK has won 30 games for the fourth consecutive season.
UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his ninth season at the helm and now owns a 292-191 career record.
Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
UK is 53-55 in the month of May under Coach Mingione.
Mingione now is 13-9 in the NCAA Tournament.
He is 10-3 in four NCAA Regionals.
Mingione now is 6-0 vs. Upstate.
OF Ryan Schwartz walked to extend his reached safely streak to 17 games.
IF Luke Lawrence went 3-for-4 with a run and stolen base.
He leads the team with 19 multi-hit games.
It is his second three-hit effort in three postseason games.
UT James McCoy went 2-for-2 with two runs, a walk, a stolen base and sacrifice.
A first inning single extended his hit streak to eight games, tying his career best.
He now owns a 16-game reached safely streak.
He has five multi-hit games this season and 19 in his career.
OF Carson Hansen went 1-for-3 with a run, walk and three-run home run.
His first-inning home run was his seventh of the season.
IF Hudson Brown delivered a critical, bases loaded, two-run single in the eighth inning to provide insurance runs.
It was his second career multi-RBI game.
LHP Ethan Walker was sensational, allowing one hit in 5.0 shutout innings.
He walked none and struck out and struck out a season-high seven.
He retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced, the lone non-out a hit by pitch.