On Day 2 of the 2024 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, it took a lot of effort to match the excitement of The first two games on Friday. However, Saturday’s opener matched the excitement with another walk-off victory, this time in extra innings.
Kentucky 5, North Carolina State 4
Mitchell Daly’s two-out home run in the 10th inning off Derrick Smith gave No. 2 seed Kentucky a 5-4 victory over No. 10 NC State in the first game of Saturday’s action. The Wildcats’ victory was the third victory in the first three games at Charles Schwab Field.
Daly’s home run was the senior third baseman’s seventh of the season. During the season, he batted .302 with a .691 OPS.
Key statistics
Kentucky first baseman Ryan Nicholson went 3 for 4, including the game-tying home run in the ninth. The graduate transfer led the Wildcats during the regular season with 21 home runs and 61 RBIs with a .299 batting average and 1.080 OPS.
play of the game
Nicholson’s opposite-field home run for the Wildcats in the bottom of the ninth off NC State’s Jacob Dudan tied the score at 4-4. In the top of the inning, the Wolfpack’s Garrett Pennington scored on Johnny Hummel’s wild pitch in the ninth for a 4-3 lead.
what they are saying
“We’ve taken Dudan first and then Smith second all year long.” said NC State head coach Elliott Avent. when asked why Dudan started the ninth, instead of closer Derrick Smith.
Whats Next
Kentucky will face the winner of Saturday night’s Florida-Texas A&M matchup on Monday at 7 p.m. ET. NC State will face the cup loser at 2 pm ET in an elimination game.