Kentucky falls to Texas A&M 5-1 in second College World Series game

Texas A&M downed Kentucky 5-1 in Tuesday’s College World Series matchup, marking the first Wildcat loss in the NCAA Tournament (6-1). Kentucky is now one loss away from being eliminated from the event and having its dream season come to an end.

“We just reminded the guys in the last five years, no team has swept through the College World Series,” Nick Mingione said postgame. “The last five national champions lost at least one game.”

A&M starting left-handed pitcher Ryan Prager dominated on the mound, holding the Cats scoreless with just two hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. Kentucky didn’t notch its first hit of the game until there were two outs in seventh inning.

Kentucky failed to score more than one run for the sixth time this season.

The Cats will now play Florida Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. CT/7:00 p.m. ET in a College World Series elimination game. Kentucky took two of three from the Gators in Gainesville back in mid-May.

Players of the Game:

• 1B Ryan Nicholson: Nicholson ended the dreams of a no-hitter with a two-out single in the seventh inning. He also blasted a solo home run in the ninth inning.
• CF Nolan McCarthy: McCarthy notched Kentucky’s first extra-base hit of the game, a double to left center field.

Moore and Prager dominate early

Right-hander Mason Moore got the Monday night start for Kentucky, while left-hander Ryan Prager started on the bump for the Aggies. The two pitchers dominated the game over the first five innings.

Prager entered Monday’s game in a bit of a slump, as he had allowed nine earned runs in his last 10 1/3 innings pitched (8.02 ERA). He however returned to form against the Cats, as he once again looked like one of the best pitchers in the country.

Both Kentucky and Texas A&M put runners on the corners in the second, but neither were able to scratch across the first run of the game. James McCoy laid down a perfect two-out bunt that would have scored Nick Lopez from third, but McCoy was *just* out at first.

Moore held the Aggies to three hits through five, while Prager held the Cats hitless. A&M however was on the verge of taking over the game in the sixth.

Aggies take control in sixth inning

It wasn’t until the top of the sixth inning where a team would score a run. Texas A&M however didn’t just score one run; they scored five in a breakout frame.

Moore opened the inning with a walk and allowed a double to Jackson Appel, putting two quick runners on the corners with no outs. Hayden Schott took advantage of the scoring opportunity, sneaking a two-run single up the middle to etch across the first two runs of the game.

Following Moore’s third walk of the game, his day came to an end. The right-hander lasted five innings, where he allowed five hits, four earned runs, and three walks while striking out three.

He allowed more earned runs in the sixth inning (four) than he had in his previous 28 1/3 NCAA Tournament innings (two).

Right-hander Cam O’Brien took over out of the bullpen, but his luck was no better than Moore’s. O’Brien gave up an RBI-double to Ali Camarillo and a two-run single to Kaeden Kent, son of former Major Leaguer Jeff Kent, to extend the A&M lead to five. With as well as Prager was pitching, the deficit felt like 50 runs.

Texas A&M improves to 2-0 in MCWS

Prager was on his way to throwing possibly the first no-hitter in the College World Series since 1960, but Ryan Nicholson ruined the party with a two-out single in the seventh. Nolan McCarthy followed him with a double, but the Cats failed to convert for their first run of the game.

Prager exited after giving up back-to-back hits to a standing ovation from the A&M faithful. He lasted 6 2/3 innings, where he gave up just two hits and no earned runs with four strikeouts.

“Prager, what an outing, what a time to pitch a game like that,” Mingione said postgame. “Give him a lot of credit. He kept us off balance. It was the fastball, the breaking ball, the change-up. He just threw an absolute great game. Give them a lot credit.”

Right-handed pitcher Josh Stewart finished the game on the mound for the Aggies. Over the final 2 1/3 innings, Stewart held the Cats to just two hits and one run.

Kentucky left-hander Evan Byers was great in relief, holding A&M scoreless over three frames of work. However, the Wildcat offense just couldn’t get it going.

Ryan Nicholson tied the program record for most home runs in a single season (23) with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Cats were still unable to overcome the four-run deficit. Pinch-hitter Patrick Herrera struck out to end the game.

The Cats will be back at it in Omaha on Tuesday with their season on the line.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Kentucky will now play Florida Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. CT/7:00 p.m. ET in a College World Series elimination game.