Kentucky selected as No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament; headed to Clemson Regional

For the third consecutive season, the Kentucky Baseball program is headed to the NCAA Tournament.

The ‘Cats have been tabbed as the No. 3 seed in the Clemson Regional, joined by No. 1 seed Clemson, No. 2 seed West Virginia and No. 4 seed USC Upstate. Play in the double elimination Regional will get underway on Friday.

Kentucky will be making its 10th ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament and fourth of the Nick Mingione era. The ‘Cats are coming off of their first ever trip to the College World Series, where it belted a walk-off home run to beat NC State before falling to Texas A&M and Florida. They however will be heading elsewhere for Regional play for the first time since 2014, where the ‘Cats lost in the Louisville Regional. They are a No. 3 seed for the first time since 2008 (lost in Ann Arbor Regional).

1988 (No. 3 seed)	Lost in Northeast Regional
1993 (No. 3 seed)	Lost in Central II Regional
2006 (No. 1 seed)	Lost in Lexington Regional
2008 (No. 3 seed)	Lost in Ann Arbor Regional
2012 (No. 2 seed)	Lost in Gary Regional
2014 (No. 2 seed)	Lost in Louisville Regional
2017 (No. 1 seed)	Lost in Louisville Super Regional
2023 (No. 1 seed)	Lost in Baton Rouge Super Regional
2024 (No. 1 seed)	Lost in Men’s College World Series

It’s been an up and down season for a rebuilding Kentucky team, which lost seven of its nine offensive starters from the College World Series team. The ‘Cats head into Tournament play with a 29-24 (13-17) record, riding a four-game losing streak. They lost six of their ten SEC series this season and were swept twice (Mississippi State and Vanderbilt).

All season long the goal was just to make the Big Dance, and that was accomplished. Now, the ‘Cats are dancing for the third consecutive season. In the history of the Kentucky program, that has never happened before. Another accolade to add to the prestigious career of head coach Nick Mingione.

Kentucky is just one of a whopping 13 teams that were selected to the NCAA Tournament, joining top-16 national seeds in Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas and Vanderbilt. Alabama, Florida, Mississippi State and Oklahoma also made the field, but will also be headed elsewhere for Regional play.

Game Times

Friday, May 30

• Kentucky vs. West Virginia, noon ET | ESPNU
• No. 11 Clemson vs. USC Upstate, 6 PM ET | ACCN

More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel

Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.