The Kentucky Wildcats and NC State Wolfpack faced off in Omaha, with the Wildcats emerging victorious in a tense 5-4 battle that lasted ten innings. Ryan Nicholson’s home run in the bottom of the ninth tied the game, but Mitchell Daly’s homer in the top of the tenth sealed it for Kentucky.
Kentucky starter Trey Pooser pitched 6.2 solid innings, relieving pressure on the bullpen, which only needed 2.1 innings of work. This means the pitching staff will be well-rested for their upcoming game against Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies secured a win against Florida Gators to stay in the winner’s bracket, setting up a showdown between two SEC powerhouses.
The Aggies’ ace, Ryan Prager, is expected to start and poses a challenge for the Wildcats with his control and off-speed pitches. Kentucky will need strong hitting to secure another victory and advance in the College World Series. The game between Kentucky and Texas A&M will be held on Monday, June 17th at 7:00 pm ET and can be viewed on ESPN. With a win in this matchup, Kentucky has the opportunity to take control of their path to the final series.