UK vs USC Upstate NCAA regional results

• Kentucky baseball was able to avoid elimination Saturday with a 7-3 victory over Big South champion USC Upstate in the NCAA Tournament at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
• Luke Lawrence paced the Kentucky Wildcats, going 3 for 4 at the plate.

Kentucky baseball was able to avoid elimination Saturday with a 7-3 victory over Big South champion USC Upstate in the NCAA Tournament at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

The Wildcats (30-25) will either play Clemson or West Virginia in the regional tournament on Sunday to stay alive.

Luke Lawrence paced the Wildcats, going 3 for 4 at the plate.

More from UK’s win over USC Upstate: 3 takeaways as Wildcats survive and advance in NCAA Tournament

Game recap from Kentucky vs. USC Upstate in the college baseball regionals:

Stream Kentucky baseball vs. USC Upstate (free trial)

Final: Kentucky 7, USC Upstate 3

The Spartans recorded one hit and left two on base in the top of the ninth.

Walker pitched five innings for UK, struck out seven batters, and only allowed one hit.

The Wildcats scored three runs on three hits. Hage and Hudson Brown recorded RBIs in the inning.

Walked downed the Spartans order again, striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.

Three out and no hits for the Wildcats in the bottom of the inning.

All three batters grounded out for the Spartans in the inning. Walker hasn’t allowed a hit in three innings pitched for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth, behind great baserunning by McCoy. He was walked at the plate, then he stole second, and he made it to third after a wild pitch.

Patrick Herrera recorded a sacrifice-bunt to bring McCoy in for the run.

Walker hit one batter with a pitch, but struck out three others to get out of the inning.

The Wildcats go down 1-2-3 in the fifth, and they haven’t recorded a hit in their last two innings.

Ethan Walker subbed in to pitch for the Wildcats, and he downed the Spartans in order.

Another 1-2-3 inning for the Wildcats at the plate.

The Spartans had hot bats at the top of the fourth inning. They recorded three hits and scored three runs.

Preston Lucas hit a 2-run RBI double to left center field to bring in runners Scott Campbell and Vance Sheahan.

Gage Griggs hit a sac-fly to bring Johnny Sweeney home for the tying run.

Kentucky recorded one hit and left one on base in the inning.

The Spartans went down in order. McCay has not given up a hit through three innings.

1-2-3 inning for UK at the plate.

McCay walked the lead off batter, but then struck out the next two batters in the lineup. Then Gage Griggs flied out to right field.

In the bottom of the first, the Wildcats scored three runs on three hits. Junior Carson Hansen hit a three-run home run to put Kentucky on the board.

Three up, three down for UK’s starting pitcher Nic McCay.

• Date: Saturday, May 31
• Time: Noon

First pitch for Kentucky and USC Upstate is scheduled for noon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

It’s expected to be sunny for Kentucky’s game against USC Upstate. The high for Saturday in Clemson, South Carolina is 81 degrees with winds at 10 to 20 mph.

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Below is UK’s postseason schedule.

Clemson Regional

• Friday, May 30: West Virginia, 4, Kentucky 3
• Saturday, May 31: Kentucky vs. USC Upstate, noon

Below is USC Upstate postseason schedule.

Clemson Regional

• Friday, May 30: Clemson, 7, USC Upstate 3
• Saturday, May 31: USC Upstate vs. Kentucky, noon

The Wildcats and Spartans have never met in the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats have beaten the Spartans the last eight times they faced each other and have won nine of their last 10 meetings. Expect Kentucky to jump out to an early lead again against USC Upstate, but this time hold on to it to secure the victory. Kentucky 4, USC Upstate 2.

No. The closest UK has been to winning the College World Series was last year, when it appeared in the event for the first time in program history. Kentucky posted a 1-2 record in its double-elimination CWS bracket, beating N.C. State but losing to Texas A&M and Florida.

No, this is the first time in program history that the Spartans have made it to the NCAA Tournament. They beat Winthrop, High Point and Charleston Southern in the Big South tournament to earn an automatic bid to this year’s tournament.

Friday

• Game 1: West Virginia 4, Kentucky 3
• Game 2: Clemson 7, USC Upstate 3

Saturday

• Game 3: Kentucky vs. USC Upstate, noon; ESPN+
• Game 4: West Virginia vs. Clemson, 6 p.m.; ESPN+

Sunday

• Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon; TV TBD
• Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.; TV TBD

Monday (if necessary)

• Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBD

Livestream: ESPN + | Fubo

TV: ESPN

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.