The Kentucky Wildcats (29-24) will face the West Virginia Mountaineers (41-14) in the first game of the Clemson regional tournament at noon on Friday. The Wildcats hail from the Southeastern Conference and have won two straight matchups against the Mountaineers. Read Mountaineers Open Regional Play with SEC Test in Kentucky.
Setting the Scene
Despite having the lowest win percentage of the four teams in the Clemson regional, Kentucky is the #3 seed heading into the weekend. This is heavily thanks in part to the difference in strength of schedule compared to the #4-seeded USC-Upstate Spartans, as the SEC is widely regarded as the top conference in college baseball this season. The Wildcats also finished conference play with a 13-17 record, four games under the .500 mark. However, UK was competitive all season long, falling short several times in one-run contests and did enough to be one of the 13 SEC teams to make the overall field in the NCAA tournament.
The Wildcats are led by Head Coach Luke Mingione, the figurehead who commanded Kentucky to its first College World Series appearance and sole Super Regional title. Mingione is a two-time recipient of the Perfect Game National Coach of the Year award (2017, 2024) and has his squad ready for another postseason run.
Kentucky had a rollercoaster of a season, and the final stretch of the regular season and into the SEC tournament was no exception. The Wildcats come into the Clemson Regional on a four-game losing streak that includes a sweep by #9 Vanderbilt and a first-round elimination in the conference tournament at the hands of Oklahoma, a team UK swept less than two weeks prior.
Realted: Kirn Awarded Student-Athlete of the Week
If there is anything to keep an eye out for during Friday’s game, it is the baserunning and stealing prowess of the Wildcats. Kentucky baserunners have combined to steal 122 bases throughout the 2025 season, over triple the amount of stolen bases that the team allowed (40). UK is 122-149 in the category this season, touting a success rate of 81.9%. Griffin Kirn, or whichever pitcher takes the mound at any point during Friday’s contest for West Virginia, will have to have eyes in the back of their head to keep this strong suit in check.
Key Players
There are several playmakers on Kentucky’s roster, but there are a few that should be at the top of the list for WVU to try and control. Cole Hage leads the offensive attack for Kentucky, averaging .317 in 2025 with 12 home runs and 14 stolen bases. In the catching department, Devin Burkes is widely regarded as one of the top catchers in college baseball, and only committed one error in 45 appearances. Ben Cleaver is a left-handed pitcher who holds a 6-3 record this season with 87 strikeouts, averaging 1.12 Ks in his 77 recorded innings pitched. With a 3.39 ERA, the Indianapolis native can deal and might see action on Friday or Saturday.
Weaknesses
Despite the tough schedule, Kentucky is still just four games over the .500 mark. With non-conference losses to the likes of Murray State, Lipscomb, Xavier, Western Kentucky, and others, there have been times when the once-ranked Wildcats played down to their competition. As the Big 12 (and every other conference that is not the Big 10) is often seen as inferior by SEC teams, this weakness might come to fruition once again on Friday.
UK also did not fare particularly well away from Lexington this season, as the team went 10-13 on the road and 0-1 on neutral ground. To add, Kentucky finished 0-3 in non-conference road games in 2025. The Wildcats have yet to face a Big 12 opponent this year, so the matchup is a unique one that might cause fits for the #3 seed.
Tune In
The West Virginia Mountaineers face the Kentucky Wildcats in the opening round of the Clemson Regional in Clemson, South Carolina. First pitch is scheduled for noon on Friday, with TV coverage provided by ESPN+ and ESPNU. The radio broadcast, as always, will be streamed on 100.9 FM The Torch and its nine affiliate stations.
Mountaineers Open Regional Play with SEC Test in Kentucky
