Ethan Walker Leads Kentucky to Crucial 7-3 Win Over Upstate

CLEMSON, S.C. – Kentucky‘s baseball season was on the line, but junior left-hander Ethan Walker came through in a big way. On Saturday, Walker delivered his best performance of the season, leading the Wildcats to a 7-3 victory against Upstate in an elimination game at Doug Kinsmore Stadium during the Clemson Regional.

The win allows the Wildcats (30-25) to extend their season by at least one more day. Kentucky will face the loser of the Clemson/West Virginia matchup on Sunday in another elimination game.

Walker entered the game tied 3-3 in the fifth inning and pitched five shutout innings, striking out a season-high seven batters. Remarkably, he did not allow a hit until two outs in the ninth inning.

Kentucky took an early 3-0 lead after a two-out rally in the first inning. Cole Hage was hit by a pitch, followed by a two-out single from James McCoy. Carson Hansen then hit a three-run home run, driving the ball opposite field through the wind.

Upstate fought back in the fourth inning, scoring three runs to tie the game. They capitalized on mistakes by Kentucky, including two doubles after being behind on two strikes.

However, the Wildcats regained the lead in the sixth inning with a well-executed squeeze bunt from Patrick Herrera. Kentucky added insurance with three more runs in the eighth inning, highlighted by Hudson Brown‘s crucial two-out, two-run single.

Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione, now in his ninth year, holds a 292-191 career record and remains undefeated against Upstate, boasting a 6-0 record.

Ryan Schwartz extended his reached safely streak to 17 games with a walk. Infielder Luke Lawrence achieved a solid performance, going 3-for-4 with a run and a stolen base, while James McCoy finished 2-for-2 with two runs and a stolen base.

Looking ahead, Kentucky will face the loser of the Clemson/West Virginia game on Sunday at noon ET, hoping to keep their postseason alive.