24th-ranked Kentucky lost to Washington State during Friday’s college baseball game at the Karbach Round Rock Classic. However, the Wildcats likely would have been in a position to win if not for an unfortunate incident involving an umpire during the latter half of the unique cross-conference matchup.
The college baseball tournament is being held at Dell Diamond, home of the Triple-A affiliate for the Texas Rangers, and includes an eclectic field. Kansas and Texas State are more regional. Wazzu and Kentucky are not.
Things got underway on Friday with the Cougs and the Cats. Chaos ensued in the bottom of the seventh when Kentucky decided to lay down a bunt with no outs and runners on first and second.
Fifth-year graduate transfer Ty Crittneberger executed to perfection. Washington State did not. Senior pitcher Andrew Baughn fielded the bunt, turned and fired a laser down to third base.
There was only one problem. And it was a big one.
The third baseman charged onto the grass so there was nobody at the bag to receive Baughn’s throw. It was going to sail past the base into foul territory if not for the umpire. He wore it on the chest.
As a result of the umpire getting drilled, the ball stayed pretty close to the field of play. One run scored, but it could have been so much worse.
Washington State got extremely lucky that the umpire was there when the third baseman was not. Otherwise, Kentucky would have been able to tie the game at 4 and probably would have had a runner on third base with no outs. A pretty major crisis was avoided and the Cougs were able to get out of the inning unscathed. They held on to their lead with help of the umpire and got a statement win for the program.