West Virginia Mountaineers Eliminate Kentucky Baseball With Late Rally in Clemson Regional, Ending Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament Hopes

The final moments of Kentucky baseball’s 2025 season were a cruel reversal of hope, unfolding under the humid skies of Clemson, South Carolina. What began as a promising afternoon in the NCAA Clemson Regional turned into heartbreak for the Wildcats, as West Virginia staged a stunning late-game rally to secure a 5-3 win and eliminate Kentucky from postseason contention.

After battling through a season defined by grit and resolve, Kentucky entered Sunday’s elimination game with both urgency and optimism. They had already stared down adversity in the regional, rebounding from a difficult opening-round loss to fight their way into this do-or-die contest. But on this day, the relentless resolve of West Virginia would prove too much.

The Wildcats led 3-2 heading into the top of the eighth inning, clinging to a one-run cushion and leaning on a bullpen that had been sturdy for most of the season. Starter Trey Pooser had delivered a solid outing, keeping Kentucky in front while scattering five hits and striking out seven over 6.1 innings of work. His effort, combined with some timely offensive execution, seemed poised to extend the Wildcats’ stay in the NCAA Tournament for at least another game.

But baseball, as ever, had other ideas. With two outs in the eighth and a runner on first, the Mountaineers showed why they were one of the most dangerous comeback teams in the field. JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia’s star infielder and a projected first-round pick, turned on a 2-1 fastball and roped a double into the right-field gap, putting runners at second and third. That set the stage for cleanup hitter Grant Hussey, who delivered the game’s defining blow—a two-run single through the right side to give the Mountaineers a 4-3 lead. The once rowdy Kentucky dugout fell silent.

Adding insult to injury, West Virginia tacked on an insurance run in the ninth thanks to a sacrifice fly by Logan Sauve, who capped off a multi-hit afternoon. Kentucky went quietly in the bottom half, unable to muster any offense against the Mountaineers’ hard-throwing closer, Carlson Reed. With one final swing and a routine flyout to left field, Kentucky’s season came to an abrupt and painful conclusion.

“We didn’t finish the way we wanted,” Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione said after the game, visibly emotional. “But I told our guys in the locker room—I’m proud of them. This group battled through injuries, tough games, and a tough conference. They gave everything.”

Indeed, Kentucky’s 2025 campaign was one of resilience. The Wildcats posted a 36-24 record and finished in the upper half of the SEC, routinely considered the toughest baseball conference in the nation. They notched series wins over Florida and LSU, and their bullpen emerged as one of the most dependable in the country during the back half of the season.

That same bullpen, however, faltered when it mattered most. Reliever Mason Moore was charged with the loss after allowing the go-ahead runs in the eighth. It was a bitter pill for Moore, who had been nearly untouchable throughout May but couldn’t find the same magic against a red-hot West Virginia lineup.

“We’ve leaned on our bullpen all year,” Mingione added. “Today it didn’t go our way, but it wasn’t from lack of effort.”

Kentucky’s offense had its moments but ultimately left too many opportunities on the table. The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning thanks to a two-run double by catcher Devin Burkes, who had been one of the team’s most consistent hitters throughout the season. In the fifth, they scratched across another run on an RBI groundout by Emilien Pitre. But with runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, Kentucky failed to capitalize.

The missed chances haunted them by game’s end. In total, the Wildcats stranded nine runners, including two in scoring position in the seventh—a potential turning point that could’ve padded their lead heading into the late innings.

“We just couldn’t get that big hit when we needed it,” said Burkes, who went 2-for-4 in his final collegiate game. “That’s baseball. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way.”

On the other side, West Virginia showed why they’ve earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous teams in the country when trailing late. With the win, the Mountaineers advanced to the regional final for the first time since 2019. Their combination of speed, clutch hitting, and aggressive baserunning proved decisive against a Kentucky team that seemed to tighten up in the final frames.

“Give credit to West Virginia—they kept coming,” Mingione said. “They earned it.”

The Wildcats’ elimination ends what was, by many accounts, a successful season. After falling short of the NCAA Tournament in 2023, Kentucky responded by retooling its roster and improving in key areas, especially defensively and on the mound. Players like Burkes, Pitre, and outfielder James McCoy took big steps forward, and several younger arms matured into legitimate SEC contributors.

Now, however, the program faces a series of offseason questions. Burkes and several key veterans will graduate or enter the MLB Draft. Mingione and his staff will likely hit the transfer portal to reload, especially on the pitching side. Still, with a strong incoming recruiting class and several promising underclassmen expected to return, the foundation remains solid.

“I believe in this program,” said Burkes. “I know they’ll be back.”

Despite the disappointing end, Kentucky baseball showed it belongs among the sport’s upper echelon. Playing in a loaded regional with top-seeded Clemson and a scrappy West Virginia squad, the Wildcats proved they could hang with anyone. The loss may sting now, but the experience gained—particularly by younger players—could pay dividends down the road.

Freshman right-hander Ty Cummings, who worked out of a jam in the seventh and flashed a mid-90s fastball, is one of those players expected to take on a larger role next season. So is sophomore third baseman Nolan McCarthy, who hit over .300 in conference play and displayed both power and patience at the plate. Their continued development could be key in keeping Kentucky relevant in a fiercely competitive SEC.

As for the fans, disappointment will linger, but there’s also room for pride. The Wildcats gave them moments to remember—walk-off wins, road upsets, and a return to the NCAA Tournament. The program is trending upward under Mingione, and the culture of toughness and togetherness he’s cultivated is evident in how his team fought until the very end.

“We’re building something here,” Mingione said. “And we’re not done.”

In the quiet moments after the final out, players hugged, coaches consoled, and the realization of a season’s end began to sink in. For seniors, it was a farewell. For others, a pause before preparing for what comes next. And for the Kentucky program as a whole, it was a reminder of just how thin the margin between triumph and heartbreak can be in postseason baseball.

West Virginia will move on, their late-inning heroics now part of regional lore. Kentucky, meanwhile, heads home, left to reflect on what might have been—and what could still be. The scoreboard didn’t favor the Wildcats on Sunday, but their effort, character, and journey will not soon be forgotten.