OMAHA, Neb. — The University of Kentucky baseball team will make its College World Series debut Saturday afternoon against North Carolina State University.
Kentucky has never lost a game since the NCAA Tournament began and carried a 5-0 record heading into the College World Series. In the Lexington Regional, Kentucky defeated Western Michigan, Illinois and Indiana State to advance. They then defeated Oregon State in two games in a best-of-three series in the Super Regional. The Wildcats won Game 1, 10-0, and then won Game 2 in a close 3-2 victory.
NC State also went 3-0 in the NCAA Regional Tournament, defeating Bryant, South Carolina and James Madison, and in the Athens Super Regional against Georgia, the visitors won Game 1, 18-1. The Bulldogs rallied back in Game 2 to make it a winner-take-all game, but the Wolfpack didn't flinch, winning Game 3, 8-5, to clinch the fourth CWS berth in program history.
clock:Follow Kentucky Baseball's College World Series on Fubo (FREE TRIAL)
The team that wins Saturday will remain in the winners bracket and will next play the winner of Saturday's second game on Monday at 7 p.m., an SEC showdown between Florida and Texas A&M. The loser of UK vs. NC State will play the loser of Florida vs. Texas A&M on Monday at 2 p.m. The season is over for the team that loses Monday afternoon's game.
The Courier-Journal's Ryan Black will be at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, and will provide live updates here and on X (formerly Twitter) during the game and a full report after the game. Follow him on X at Ryan Black.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 10th Inning: NC State 4, Kentucky 4
In the 10th inning, NC State was up by three and three out.
NCAA College World Series Bottom of the 9th Inning: NC State 4, Kentucky 4
A solo shot from Ryan Nicholson was UK's only run of the ninth inning, sending the game into extra innings in Omaha.
Kentucky's Ryan Nicholson hits a tying home run
Kentucky first baseman Ryan Nicholson tied the game at 4-4 with a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the ninth. Watch the video of him hitting the game-tying home run below.
Ryan Nicholson showed his competitive spirit with a home run in the ninth inning.
Kentucky was trailing, 4-3, heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Ryan Nicholson quickly erased the deficit, hitting a leadoff home run to tie the game again.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 9th Inning: NC State 4, Kentucky 3
NC State's Jacob Cozart reached base with a single and then scored on a wild pitch to put Kentucky behind 4-3. Kentucky didn't allow any more runs, but was three outs away from suffering its first loss since the start of the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA College World Series Bottom of the 8th Inning: Kentucky 3, NC State 3
A wild, scoreless inning ended for Kentucky. Emilian Pitre walked and stole second base. After NC State pitcher Jacob Dudan was called for a balk, Pitre advanced to third base. However, with one out and standing on third base, Pitre was unable to advance any further. Nick Lopez struck out swinging for the second out, and Mitchell Daly hit a pop fly to end the inning.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 8th Inning: Kentucky 3, NC State 3
Cameron O'Brien got one out in the eighth before being replaced by Jackson Norve, who ended the inning with two NC State runners on base.
NCAA College World Series Bottom of the 7th Inning: Kentucky 3, NC State 3
In the seventh, UK had no runners on base and three outs, with the score tied at 3-3 with two innings remaining.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 7th Inning: Kentucky 3, NC State 3
Kentucky hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. NC State fought back in the seventh with a two-run homer by Alex Makarewicz to tie the game again. Kentucky relief pitcher Cameron O'Brien closed out the inning after Trey Pooser was replaced.
Kentucky made a pitching change in the seventh inning.
His day ended when Trey Pooser allowed a two-run home run to tie the game at 3-3, and star relief pitcher Cameron O'Brien took to the mound with a runner on first base.
NCAA College World Series Bottom of the 6th Inning: Kentucky 3, NC State 1
Ryan Nicholson singled, but NC State closed out the frame with an inning-ending double play.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 6th Inning: Kentucky 3, NC State 1
Kentucky pitcher Trey Pooser pitched a scoreless sixth inning, striking out all three batters he faced.
NCAA College World Series Bottom of the 5th Inning: Kentucky 3, NC State 1
Kentucky was up by three in the fifth inning and couldn't do anything with three outs.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 5th Inning: Kentucky 3, NC State 1
Trey Pooser allowed consecutive hits in the top of the fifth, advancing a runner to third base, but a double play and a grounder helped him and Kentucky get through the inning without giving up a run.
Nolan McCarthy's two-run homer caps Kentucky's fourth inning
Check out the video below of Kentucky center fielder Nolan McCarthy's two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
NCAA College World Series bottom of the 4th inning: Kentucky 3, NC State 1
Kentucky started the top of the fourth with consecutive hits. Ryan Nicholson singled first, then Nolan McCarthy homered over the left field wall to the Kentucky relief pitcher, bringing both of them home. The Wildcats couldn't add any more runs, but they were leading 3-1 going into the fifth inning.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 4th Inning: Kentucky 1, NC State 1
Trey Pooser singled but prevented NC State from scoring, keeping the score at 1-1.
NCAA College World Series Bottom of the 3rd Inning: Kentucky 1, NC State 1
Emilian Pitre walked and that was the end for Kentucky. The next three batters were out in succession.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 3rd Inning: Kentucky 1, NC State 1
The Wolfpack got a touchdown run by Trey Pooser to score at one, then Garrett Pennington scored on a 1-RBI single by Jacob Cozart to tie the game.
NCAA College World Series bottom of second innings: Kentucky 1, NC State 0
Nolan McCarthy walked to lead off the inning, but Kentucky's next three batters were out in quick succession to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead after the second inning.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 2nd Inning: Kentucky 1, NC State 0
Kentucky's Trey Pooser allowed a hit batter and another single, but again got through one scoreless inning to help Kentucky maintain a 1-0 lead.
NCAA College World Series Bottom of the 1st Inning: Kentucky 1, NC State 0
Emilian Pitre doubled and advanced on a throwing error. Nick Lopez singled to send Pitre home. Mitchell Daly singled before the end of the inning. UK went into the second inning with two runners on base but still leading 1-0.
NCAA College World Series Top of the 1st Inning: Kentucky 0, NC State 0
Kentucky starting pitcher Trey Pooser walked and allowed a single but did not allow any runs.
What channel will the Kentucky vs NC State game be on today?
The NCAA College World Series game between Kentucky and North Carolina State will be broadcast on ESPN.
Fubo lets you stream ESPN with a free trial here.
The historic season continues:Kentucky baseball team advances to College World Series for the first time in history
Kentucky vs NC State start time
First pitch for Saturday's game in Omaha, Nebraska, is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
Kentucky vs. NC State Predictions
Kentucky 9, NC State 2: Offensively, the two teams seem evenly matched. The Wolfpack's batting average is .289, slightly better than the Wildcats' .287. But Kentucky has a slight edge in runs per game (8.0 vs. NC State's 7.7). The biggest difference is on the mound, where Kentucky has given up more than a run per game and has allowed fewer hits and walks. And when the game comes down to scoring, Kentucky has a significant advantage, leading the SEC in stolen bases; NC State isn't even in the top 200 in Division I stolen bases. The Wildcats aren't looking to end their first College World Series game with a loss.
To Omaha:Kentucky baseball team defeats Oregon State in NCAA Tournament Super Regional to advance to CWS
Kentucky vs NC State game location
All College World Series games will be played at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
Kentucky Baseball Schedule 2024
Kentucky is 45-14 in 2024 and 22-8 in regular season SEC games. It marks just the second time in school history that the team has shared the league's regular-season title, and the 2024 team's 45 wins tied the school's single-season record, set by the 2012 team.
Click here to see the Wildcats' complete 2024 schedule.
NC State Baseball Schedule 2024
NC State is 38-21 overall and 18-11 in ACC play during the regular season, good for second place in the Atlantic Division.
Click here to see the Wolfpack's complete 2024 schedule.
Kentucky Baseball Team Roster
Want to see the Wildcats' full roster?
Click here to find out about the UK baseball team for 2024.
NC State University Baseball Team Roster
Want to know more about the Wolfpack roster?
For player biographies, click here.
College World Series schedule, tournament brackets and television information
All times are Eastern Time
Friday, June 14
- Game 1: North Carolina 3, Virginia 2
- Game 2: Tennessee 12, Florida State 11
Saturday, June 15
Sunday, June 16
Monday, June 17
Tuesday, June 18
Wednesday, June 19
Thursday, June 20
- Game 13 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD, 2 p.m., TV channel TBD
- Game 14 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., TBD channel
CWS Championship Final Schedule 2024 (Best of 3 Series)
Saturday, June 22
Sunday, June 23
Monday, June 24
2024 College World Series Odds
- Tennessee: +250
- Texas A&M: +350
- Kentucky: +450
- North Carolina: +750
- Florida State University: +800
- Virginia: +1000
- NC State University: +1100
- Florida: +1600
Odds of Kentucky baseball winning the 2024 College World Series
Odds provided by BetMGM. Odds are updated as they become available.
Kentucky: According to BetMGM, the Wildcats have the third-best odds to win the College World Series at +450.
Contact Kentucky men's basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow @RyanABlack on X.