GAME THREAD: West Virginia vs Kentucky — NCAA Tournament

West Virginia faces Kentucky in an elimination game in the loser’s bracket of the Lexington Regional. The Mountaineers beat Ball State 13-5 yesterday while the Wildcats lost 5-3 to Indiana.

Both West rVirginia and Kentucky have been struggling offensively over the past few weeks. Kentucky has scored more than five runs in a game once in their last six games (six vs Florida on May 19), while the Mountaineers have scored more than five runs twice in the past eight games (six vs Indiana on Friday, 13 vs Ball State on Saturday).

West Virginia is turning to Grant Siegel on the mound. Siegel last pitched on May 18 against Texas, and last started a game on April 11 against Penn State. Siegel has eight starts in 15 appearances for WVU this year. Kentucky is countering with Austin Strickland on the mound, who last pitched on May 20 against Florida, which was his only start of the year.

It’s the same lineup from yesterday for WVU with the only exception being the left-handed Sam White getting the start at third instead of Ellis Garcia against the right-handed Strickland.

Strickland is 3-1 on the year, and has pitched 46.2 innings, while striking out 51, with a 5.01 ERA. Strickland’s lone start came in his last outing, where he also threw a season-high 86 pitches against the Gators. His final line was 6.2 innings pitched, three hits, three runs, and seven strikeouts.

Siegel is 4-2 with a 5.18 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched this year. He has struck out 30, while walking 17. Siegel has thrown as many as 106 pitches in a game this year, but has not pitched more than 5.2 innings in one outing.

First pitch is set for 12 p.m., with the game being televised on ESPNU and ESPN+.

• WVU’s 13-5 win over Ball State
• Photo Gallery from WVU’s win
• Postgame Reaction from WVU following win

West Virginia Lineup

JJ Wetherholt- 2B
Logan Suave- DH
Landon Wallace- LF
Caleb McNeely- RF
Grant Hussey- 1B
Braden Barry- CF
Dayne Leonard- C
Sam White- 3B
Tevin Tucker- SS
Grant Siegel- SP

Kentucky Lineup

Jackson Gray- CF
Jase Felker- 3B
Devin Burkes- C
Emilien Pitre- 2B
Hunter Gilliam- 1B
Reuben Church- DH
Ryan Waldschmidt- LF
Nolan McCarthy- RF
Grant Smith- SS
Austin Strickland- SP

First Inning
WVU: Wetherholt and Suave line out, before Wallace singles. McNeely ends the inning striking out as Strickland gets him to chase three sliders.
UK: Gray reaches on a hit by pitch after Tucker dropped a ball in foul territory. Felker makes Siegel pay with a RBI double down the left field line. Felker then scores on a groundout from Pitre.
End 1: UK 2, WVU 0

Second Inning
WVU: The Mountaineers go in order with Hussey flying out, before Barry and Leonard ground out.
UK: Kentucky adds another run on a single then double. Siegel is replaced by Maxx Yehl, who gets a double play on a lineout to Hussey who then tags first to end the inning.
End 2: UK 3, WVU 0

Third Inning
WVU: Tucker and Wetherholt single to put runners on the corner with one out. Suave strikes out looking, before Wallace chases a slider to end the threat for WVU.
UK: Kentucky appeared to take a 4-0 lead, but after review, the relay from WVU as well as Leonard’s foot somewhat blocking the plate is able to keep the run off the board. In comes Carlson Reed to get the last out of the third.
End 3: UK 3, WVU 0

Fourth Inning
WVU: Hussey walks, and then Barry replaces him on a fielder’s choice. Barry steals second, but then Leonard strikes out after an eight-pitch at-bat.
UK: McCarthy hits a solo home run to center field to score two more. It was his second home run of the year.
End 4: UK 5, WVU 0

Fifth Inning
WVU: Wetherholt singles and steals second, but Suave is WVU’s fifth strikeout victim of the day to end the inning.
UK: Kentucky adds another one and Reed is taken out. Felker reached as Hussey dropped the ball at first, and scored on a Gilliam single. Robby Porco gets out of a one out bases loaded jam.
End 5: UK 6, WVU 0

Sixth Inning
WVU: Mountaineers go in order, with Strickland dealing.
UK: Porco continues to shove, as the Wildcats go in order.
End 6: UK 6, WVU 0

Seventh Inning
WVU: Barry singles to leadoff the inning, but WVU goes down in order as we reach stretch time.
UK: Kentucky’s Burkes walks who comes around to score on a single from Church.
End 7: UK 7, WVU 0