Tag: Nolan McCarthy

In a magical season for Kentucky baseball, perhaps the most memorable moment was supplied by Wildcats outfielder Nolan McCarthy. His diving slide across home plate on a passed ball ignited the fanbase, and sent Kentucky to its first ever College World Series.

With the season over, change is inevitable, and the 2025 Wildcats baseball team won’t have one of its heroes of this season after McCarthy entered the transfer portal.

Related: Kentucky baseball in final USA TODAY coaches poll

On Tuesday, it was announced that coach Nick Ammirati was leaving Kentucky for the Georgia Bulldogs, and shortly after, McCarthy announced his decision to transfer. The now former Wildcat apparently made the decision at least in part because of the departure of Ammirati.

The 2025 Wildcats baseball team will look much different from this season’s. They’re losing a large part of the team for various reasons, leaving coach Nick Mingione and his staff a lot of work to do to rebuild. They made the College World Series, and fans won’t accept a slide back to irrelevancy.

A big win over Oregon State on Saturday left Kentucky baseball needing just a single win to make it to the College World Series for the first time in school history. On Sunday night, the Beavers made it much tougher. The Wildcats would only have four hits, but great pitching, and a epic moment from Nolan McCarthy would propel Kentucky to history.

McCarthy got things started with an RBI double in the second inning, then he gave them a two-run lead in the fourth. Oregon State would answer in the bottom of the fourth, putting two runs up. That set up the seventh inning.

Leading off the inning, McCarthy doubled again, putting him in scoring position with no outs. A bunt attempt failed, bringing Grant Smith to the plate.

Related: Best images from Kentucky win over Oregon State in game 1

Smith swung and missed at strike three, but the ball squirted past the catcher to the wall, sending McCarthy to third. However, as he hit the base, he noticed the pitcher wasn’t covering home and took off. The pitcher and catcher both converged on the plate, but McCarthy dove head first, soaring through the air and slid across for what would be the game-winner in a 3 – 2 victory.

Oregon State would make a push in the ninth inning, getting men on the corners with two outs, but Johnny Hummel would get a strikeout to end the game and send Kentucky to Omaha.

Kentucky pitching only gave up two hits, but walked nine. However, they got the outs in key moments and only gave up two runs.

The Wildcats will meet either North Carolina State or the Georgia Bulldogs in their first College World Series game. The first game will be on June 15th, with the time not determined yet.

The Kentucky Wildcats baseball team has had a terrific start to the 2024 season, and moved up to 16th in the latest top 25 rankings. On Friday, they began a series with the Alabama Crimson Tide, and started off with a win.

Kentucky scored first, but the Tide tied it up at one. In the fifth, however, the Cats put more runs on the board, courtesy of a two-run single by Devin Burkes. Then in the sixth, Nolan McCarthy bashed a two-run homerun to put the Wildcats up 6 – 1. They would win 6 – 2.

McCarthy’s homer was his only hit, but it was a big one. Mitchell Daly went 2-for-3 with an RBI as well. On the mound, Trey Pooser was terrific, going seven innings while surrendering just two runs. Travis Smith worked the final two innings gave up just one hit.

The Wildcats and Crimson Tide will continue the series with game two on Saturday. It can be seen at 2:00 PM ET on SEC Network+.