LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky’s season is on the ropes. After losing to NC State 5-4 in the winner’s bracket on Saturday night, the Wildcats must now win three straight games to advance to their first ever super regional.
UK’s journey out of the loser's bracket starts with Indiana at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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“At some point, the second you lose a game, then you’re basically one game away from being eliminated anyway,” UK head Mingione said after the game. “But man, it is so much better to be in the winner’s bracket. To win one game instead of now when you have to win three. But I’ve been a part of this before. Our coaching staff has been a part of this before.”
The Wildcats and Indiana are familiar with one another. UK defeated Indiana 5-2 on May 9. Freshman lefthanded pitcher Zack Thompson, an Indiana native, struck out a career-high 10 batters against the Hoosiers in the first meeting. Thompson, UK’s regular midweek starter this season, has been used exclusively out of the bullpen since that game.
Mingione wouldn’t commit 100 percent to starting Thompson, but he said he’s leaning that way.
“He’s likely to do it,” Mingione said. “Obviously we’ll sit down and figure out and talk about it. We haven't talked about it, but right now that’s exactly what I’m leaning towards.”
That both teams are familiar with each other is something Mingione said is an advantage. Players are more familiar with pitch patterns and defensive positioning the second time around. If there’s anything Mingione could potentially have to guard against, it’s his team potentially looking at a rematch with NC State on Sunday night.
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“That’s something we’ve talked to our team about all year,” Mingione said. “That’s one of the strengths of our team is we haven’t looked down the road. We’ve wired them that way from the very beginning. From the very, very beginning, that’s exactly how we’ve had them approach it. When you get this time of year, that’s how you’ve gotta be. You can’t be looking ahead. That will be no different. I will not lose any sleep about that.”
The only time UK has been in an elimination situation this season was in the SEC Tournament. After losing to LSU in the third round, UK had to play South Carolina for a spot in the semifinals. The Wildcats lost 3-1, ending their hope of an SEC title. Mingione told his team to remember that feeling for the next time they’re in this situation.
“... I think every single team at some point, even the team that wins the College World Series, is probably going to be in that position,” Mingione said. “The next time we’re in that position, if we don’t come through, then the season is over. Not the tournament, but the season.. I just basically told them that nothing in this game in the postseason is gonna come easy — it’s not supposed to come easy. I told them when we get this done it’s gonna be even that much sweeter.”
