Hjelle strikes out the first Cardinal, and always like to start the inning with their batter returning to the dugout with his head down.
Side note--if Kentucky can rally and win this game, and Hjelle get the win, it would be his 3rd NCAA tournament win already in 8 days.
2-2 on the next batter, curve outside. Was about a foot too far for him to chase. Ball high and Hjelle wanted to know where it missed, as it's a walk. We don't need that, as Hjelle's control isn't perfect, but McKay's is closer.
Easy ground ball but just to the right of White, to the left of Mahan, and runners are on the corners as the hit-and-run was on. Can Hjelle do it one more time?
# 3 hitter up for Louisville, and we need an unproductive out.
Curve over the plate, but low, I guess, and it's 1-0. Berlanger out to talk.
SAC fly to center field, and it's 2-0. That is a big run for Louisville. May keep Louisville from a big inning, but this could be a 2-0, 2-1 game.
McKay up with a runner on 1st, two outs.
2-0. Foul home run, and it's 2-1. Foul, 2-2. Foul. Grounds to Mahan in the hole, but shift is perfect, drops the grounder, but plenty of time to throw him out.
Mahan leads off with a 2-2 shot down the RF line, off the 1B glove, and it's a stand-up double. In another game, he may have tried for a triple, but you don't want to make the first out at 3rd ever, but especially in this game.
Squires up, and announcers babbling about trying to tie it up with one swing. Squires has one home run all season. There's a SAC bunt and Mahan moves to 3rd.
Have another left-hander up in a position where we need a fly ball, base hit, or deep grounder to right side to score Mahan, Tyler Marshall. Let's go, Tyler!
Poor swing on the first pitch, and it's 0-1. Comes inside, and there's the first HBP for McKay--all season. Wow.
Runners on the corners with one out. Louisville will be at double play depth on the infield for Marcus Carson. High strike fastball, 0-1. Foul fly, nice running grab by the left fielder, but will be enough for Mahan to tag and score, and it's 2-1.
Marshall also tags from 1st base and he runs to 2nd and now we have the tying run at 2nd base for Connor Heady.
Ball outside. Now curve that hints at the outside corner, but too late, and it's 2-0. Swinging, and I HATE that, and it's a weak foul pop-up for out # 3.
Make him throw at least two more pitches. Maybe a ball called from this umpire. Maybe you get another mistake. Maybe you get a walk and Pompey comes up with two on. Oh well, we got one back, and I thought we needed to respond, and we did, so big run for UK.
Hjelle walks the next batter. He's pretty good today, but just pretty good. Normally outstanding. Have to believe throwing 107 pitches Friday, then 35 Monday contribute to this as he is now over 90 pitches.
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