It was a magical run for Kentucky baseball in 2024, the Bat Cats winning a program record 46 games en route to the College World Series under Nick Mingione. With a top-five schedule in the nation, the team claimed its second SEC regular season title ever and hosted a Super Regional for the first time ever before sweeping through all five matchups on its way to the school’s first trip to Omaha in history.
Mingione’s group came up just short in the CWS, but it was a run we’ll all remember for a long, long time. And on Saturday, that group was honored at Kroger Field during the football team’s matchup vs. Auburn.
The Kentucky head coach brought the Bat Cats out on the field with their College World Series and SEC championship trophies to the sound of a roar from Big Blue Nation — a well-earned celebration of greatness.
Take a look at the moment:
And a few of KSR’s photos from the team’s appearance:
“Just amazing,” Mingione said of the moment. “For them to share this experience with our fans, for them to see each other and be around each other — we talk all the time about this being a special team. It was amazing. Thank you to the Big Blue Nation. To hear the roar for our guys, that was pretty awesome.”
The Bat Cats wrapped up a pair of exhibition matchups in October on Sunday, starting with a 25-8 win over Wright State on Oct. 6, followed by a big win over Morehead State this afternoon.
Kentucky will open the regular season in February as it begins its push to the College World Series for a second consecutive season under Mingione.
We’ll see you at Kentucky Proud Park in the spring, BBN.
