Skip to main content
Wildcat Blue Nation
Fansided

Kentucky Baseball looking to upset West Virginia after a dramatic first-round win

The Bat Cats, hot off a nail-biting victory in their first postseason game, are looking to punch up against West Virginia.
ByDrew Holbrook|
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on Reddit
Google Discover
May 20, 2025; Hoover, AL, USA; Kentucky second baseman Luke Lawrence (10) dives back to first on a pickoff attempt during the game with Oklahoma in the first round of the SEC Baseball Tournament at the Hoover Met.
May 20, 2025; Hoover, AL, USA; Kentucky second baseman Luke Lawrence (10) dives back to first on a pickoff attempt during the game with Oklahoma in the first round of the SEC Baseball Tournament at the Hoover Met. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Kentucky Baseball heard from everyone that they didn't deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament this past week. The Cats were one of the last 4 teams to make the cut, but thus far, they aren't playing like it. Kentucky just pulled off a sizable upset of No. 2 Wake Forest in thrilling fashion.

Demon Deacons ace Chris Levonas was as advertised; the starting pitcher came into the game with a sub-3 ERA and over 100 K's. Levonas had his way with most Kentucky hitters, giving up just two hits and striking out six. But the Cats battled, and Levonas was nearing 100 pitches heading into the 6th inning. So, Wake Forest played the long game and pulled to reserve a little energy.

The Cats wasted no time taking advantage of that move. Trailing 3-1, Kentucky plated four in the 6th inning to take the lead; but Wake Forest didn't go away without a fight; they scored one in the bottom of the 6th and then tied the game up in the 8th inning.

Familiar Tactics to Win

If there is one thing Kentucky does very well, it's putting pressure on the opposing team in hopes that they crack. And that's exactly what happened.

In the top of the 9th, Jayce Tharnish got on base with a 1-out single. Then, the speedster stole second... and then he stole third. With a 2-2 count to Tyler Cerny, Wake Forest’s Will Ray threw a wild pitch that got past catcher Matt Conte, and Tharnish dashed home to score the winning run.

It wasn't easy; the Cats managed just five hits on the day, but they did the dirty work when it counted. Now, Kentucky avoids the dreaded loser's bracket for now and finds itself just two wins away from a trip to the Super Regionals.

Kentucky will take on No. 16 national seed and the No. 1 seed in the Morgantown Regional, West Virginia, after the Mountaineers absolutely crushed Binghamton 10-1 in the first round. Jaxon Jelkin did his part as Kentucky's ace; now, it'll be up to the "slim reaper" Ben Cleaver to try and capture some of the same magic that spurred Kentucky last season.

The Bat Cats and West Virginia will begin tomorrow at 5:00 PM on SEC Network. Tune in on a Saturday afternoon and cheer on our Cats, Big Blue Nation, as Mingione and his bunch try and revive a so-so season up to this point.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Home/kentucky baseball