The 2023 NCAA Baseball Tournament’s Lexington Regional is set to begin on Friday. Kentucky will host Ball State in the opening game, followed by West Virginia taking on Indiana in the nightcap game on the same day. The action will continue on Saturday and Sunday with the winner-take-all championship game scheduled for Monday if necessary.
Kentucky has a record of 36-18 and finished eighth in the Southeastern Conference, boasting a strong on-base percentage and an excellent balance in the hitting and pitching department. While they hit the fewest home runs in the SEC this season, they are the second in the league and 11th in the country in on-base percentage, highlighting their offensive prowess by getting runners on base and moving them along. Senior pitcher Zack Lee has been instrumental for the team this season.
West Virginia, coached by Randy Mazey, finished 39-18 this season. Although it has lost five straight games, it has a well-balanced offensive attack, with five players who have at least 14 stolen bases and four with double-digit home runs. Sophomore second baseman JJ Wetherholt has been brilliant offensively for WVU this season, recording a .443 batting average, 15 home runs, and 35 stolen bases. WVU has leaned on Blaine Traxel and Ben Hampton as the workhouse pitchers this season, with Carlson Reed providing effective closure.
Indiana comes into the tournament with a 41-18 record; however, the team lost four of their last six games. They are led by catcher Brock Tibbits and sophomore righty Luke Sinnard, who has been outstanding with a 6-3 record and 109 strikeouts in 84.1 innings played. Ryan Kraft has been an effective weapon for Indiana this season out of the bullpen.
Ball State stunned everyone by winning the MAC Championship game, qualifying directly for the NCAA tournament field with a 36-21 record. Head coach Rich Maloney and his team won 16 games on the road this season. Junior Decker Scheffler leads Ball State with a .388 batting average, and senior Trennor O’Donnell has been their top pitcher this season with a 5-3 record and a 2.98 ERA.
Friday’s Kentucky-Ball State game can be seen on the SEC Network, while the West Virginia-Indiana game can be viewed on ESPN Plus. The tournament is otherwise closed to the public due to COVID-19 concerns. The Lexington Regional will be highly competitive and intriguing, with the teams giving their all to clinch the championship and proceed towards their ultimate goal of winning the NCAA Baseball championship.
