The House of Blue

UK lineup same as Purdue game:
1. Cousino - CF
2. McCarthy - 3B
3. Maile - 1B
4. Williams - C
5. Flynn - RF
6. Zellers - LF
7. Riddle - 2B
8. McConkey - DH
9. Reida - SS

Come on, Cats! Make it 2-0 for the day, and get an invite to the Super Regional!

UK still has to win tomorrow even if it wins tonight. But tonight would obviously make for winner-take-all game.

Alex Miklos, the kid who hit the game-winning RBI triple to beat UK on Friday, is not in tonight's starting lineup for Kent State

Gary Henderson said this would be a game run similarly to when UK played the nightcap of a Sunday regional doubleheader against Arizona in 2008.

In that game, UK used eight pitchers and lost 5-3 to Arizona in the Ann Arbor Regional. The pitchers from that game:

-Brock Baber: Start, 2IP
-Tommy Warner: 1IP
-Aaron Lovett: 1IP
-Logan Darnell: 2IP
-Mike Maczmarek: 0.1IP
-Greg Dombrowski: 0.2IP
-Tyler Howe: 1IP
-Andrew Albers: 1IP

UK righty Chandler Shepherd is starting the game tonight vs. Kent State. He pitched three innings yesterday vs. Valpo, but he only threw 34 pitches. He should be fine to settle in for a few innings, but he'll also have a short leash. From UK's bullpen, here's who is definitely available:

-Shepherd: Will start. Threw 3IP (34 pitches) Saturday vs. Valparaiso.
-Walter Wijas: Has not pitched in the Gary Regional.
-Tim Peterson: Threw 0.2IP (10 pitches) Friday vs. Kent State. Was warming up in the first game today when Alex Phillips was brought in.
-Taylor Martin: Has not pitched in the Gary Regional.

We know Sam Mahar is not available because of a lingering arm tenderness. Corey Littrell is obviously not available since he threw 7.1IP in his start today. We assume A.J. Reed is not available since he pitched 110 pitches in 9IP Friday against Kent State in the 21-inning game.

That leaves the following pitchers who may be available:
-Trevor Gott: Threw 4IP (65 pitches) Friday against Kent State. That's a lot for a closer, obviously. My guess is he'll be ready to go.
-Taylor Rogers: Threw 3.2IP (93 pitches) in a start Friday against Kent State. It's widely believed he'll start a would-be game tomorrow, but all bets are off if they need somebody in a pinch.
-Alex Phillips: Threw 3.2IP (73 pitches) Friday against Kent State and 1.2IP (19 pitches) earlier today vs. Purdue. Don't know if they'll warm him back up after pitching today, but he only threw 19 pitches and was extremely effective and efficient.

What a game.

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If Oregon wins their Regional...yes they will host UK or KSU.

If Austin Peay should pull off a miracle and Kentucky wins out, then would be in Lexington.

Heck, Kent State could host if the Govs in a Super....guarantee you no one in the NCAA wouldve seen that coming.

Shepherd K's first two batters then gets fly ball to left. UK 0, Kent St. 0 - B1st

Kent State has longest current winning streak in nation at 19

Austin Cousino sends a long fly ball to LF that is caught by LF as he bangs into wall. UK saw enough of that vs. Kent State on Friday

Oregon is still playing....leading APSU 3-0

Now Kent State's George Roberts sends Cousino to edge of warning track in dead center. Another out.

Williams singles up the middle and then Flynn absolutely smokes a ball to CF…. caught. Looks like UK just missed a sign or something. Williams gunned by about 40 feet on steal attempt. Maybe a hit and run gone wrong? Zellers then grounds out to SS and we are through 2 innings with no score.

Chandler Shepherd: 9 up. 9 down. He has thrown 63 pitches this weekend. 50 of them have been strikes. Efficient.