Kentucky set to play Clemson in another elimination game on Sunday

After staving off elimination in a 7-3 win on Saturday against USC Upstate, Kentucky will look to keep its season alive with another must-win opportunity on Sunday.

Following West Virginia’s 9-6 win over Clemson in the Clemson Regional on Saturday night, Kentucky is now set to face the hosting Tigers on Sunday afternoon in the second straight win-or-go-home scenario. First pitch is scheduled for noon ET at Doug Kingsmore Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Kentucky now has to win three games in two days to make it out of the Clemson Regional. A win over Clemson on Sunday sets up another elimination matchup that same night in a rematch against West Virginia. If the Bat Cats can pull off both victories, it’ll create a regional championship on Monday.

BREAKING: No. 3 Kentucky will clash with No. 1 Clemson tomorrow at noon in a Clemson Regional eliminator.

Loser heads home. Winner will face No. 2 West Virginia tomorrow night at 6:00 pm EST. pic.twitter.com/Tqjb1iy5nr

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerOn3) June 1, 2025

Facing elimination against USC Upstate, Kentucky was in desperation mode on Saturday. Just like Friday’s loss to West Virginia, the Wildcats struck first by scoring three runs, all of them coming in the first inning. But after a couple of scoreless innings, the Spartans added three runs of its own in the fourth — déjà vu was creeping back into the minds of the Big Blue Nation.

But Kentucky would not give up the lead this time around, tacking on another run in the bottom of the sixth before pouring in three more in the bottom of the eighth for some added insurance. Five different Wildcats recorded a hit as Carson Hansen drove in three runs by himself. Nic McCay was solid in his NCAA Tournament debut on the mound before Ethan Walker came in and shined as the relief to polish off the 7-3 win.

Is there still some magic left in this Kentucky team? Nick Mingione and his Bat Cats will find out on Sunday.

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