MORGANTOWN, W.V. – When Kentucky second baseman Luke Lawrence was removed from Friday's game in the sixth inning after injuring his knee on a fouled bunt attempt, it would've been easy to speculate on his status for the rest of the Morgantown Regional.
Lawrence writhed in pain on the ground before getting back in the box and drawing a walk in the sixth inning of a 6-5 win over Wake Forest. But there was an opening to return this weekend when X-rays came back negative on Friday afternoon. From there, he worked with trainer Justin Durham throughout the night and early Saturday morning to have a shot to play against West Virginia in the winners' bracket.
"It was definitely a long night," Lawrence said. "Got back to the hotel and got some food, and then stayed up in (Durham's) hotel room for had to have been four hours. Getting ice, stem, all of the above. And then this morning I woke up and had breakfast with the team, then immediately just right with (Durham) again. It just shows his heart and how much he cares about us. He got me on that field today."
Lawrence was the designated hitter for the Wildcats on Saturday night. He came through with a two-RBI double to give Kentucky a 6-0 lead in the second inning. But his biggest at-bat came in the eighth inning. With the bases loaded, Lawrence roped a single just over the reach of the second baseman to break the tie and drive home the go-ahead run.
Kentucky reliever Jack Bennett said there was no one else the team would've wanted at the dish in that situation.
"There was not a single doubt in the dugout," Bennett said. "We knew we wanted him at the plate, and we knew he was going to do it, and he delivered. Every single guy in the dugout had faith in him."
After the players finished answering questions in the postgame press conference, Kentucky coach Nick Mingione shared a few stories about how much Lawrence had persevered during the season.
"I cannot say enough good things about Luke," Mingionesaid. "What he did for our team last night and what he did for our team today. The guys respect him, and they’ll tell you. I have watched this guy literally put his body on the line for Kentucky. Early in the year, he was having to take his shoes off, his cleats off in between innings because his feet were killing him that bad. In Gainesville, literally throwing up in the dugout because we played such an early game after a night game of heat exhaustion and literally throwing up. And then just coming right back and taking the field.
"What he means to Kentucky, he epitomizes what it means to be a Wildcat. This guy would do anything to help Kentucky win. His journey started out at a Division III school, to the biggest stage in college baseball, and doing it when it matters the most. I just cannot say enough about him."
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When I spoke with Bennett around this time last year after his commitment to the Wildcats, he told me that he "basically came out of the womb bleeding blue" and that Kentucky had "always been a dream school of mine to go to, much less play baseball for."
Derek Terry is the founder of Bat Cats Central, a leading source for Kentucky baseball coverage. Before leaving full-time sportswriting, Derek worked for The Cats' Pause (2017-22) and Cats Illustrated (2015-17), and interned with D1baseball.com.
Notes: The story of how Luke Lawrence got ready for Saturday
A look at Luke Lawrence's 24 hours after an injury on Friday, Jack Bennett's performance and an impressive group of talent in the Morgantown Regional.
MORGANTOWN, W.V. – When Kentucky second baseman Luke Lawrence was removed from Friday's game in the sixth inning after injuring his knee on a fouled bunt attempt, it would've been easy to speculate on his status for the rest of the Morgantown Regional.
Lawrence writhed in pain on the ground before getting back in the box and drawing a walk in the sixth inning of a 6-5 win over Wake Forest. But there was an opening to return this weekend when X-rays came back negative on Friday afternoon. From there, he worked with trainer Justin Durham throughout the night and early Saturday morning to have a shot to play against West Virginia in the winners' bracket.
"It was definitely a long night," Lawrence said. "Got back to the hotel and got some food, and then stayed up in (Durham's) hotel room for had to have been four hours. Getting ice, stem, all of the above. And then this morning I woke up and had breakfast with the team, then immediately just right with (Durham) again. It just shows his heart and how much he cares about us. He got me on that field today."
Lawrence was the designated hitter for the Wildcats on Saturday night. He came through with a two-RBI double to give Kentucky a 6-0 lead in the second inning. But his biggest at-bat came in the eighth inning. With the bases loaded, Lawrence roped a single just over the reach of the second baseman to break the tie and drive home the go-ahead run.
Kentucky reliever Jack Bennett said there was no one else the team would've wanted at the dish in that situation.
"There was not a single doubt in the dugout," Bennett said. "We knew we wanted him at the plate, and we knew he was going to do it, and he delivered. Every single guy in the dugout had faith in him."
After the players finished answering questions in the postgame press conference, Kentucky coach Nick Mingione shared a few stories about how much Lawrence had persevered during the season.
"I cannot say enough good things about Luke," Mingione said. "What he did for our team last night and what he did for our team today. The guys respect him, and they’ll tell you. I have watched this guy literally put his body on the line for Kentucky. Early in the year, he was having to take his shoes off, his cleats off in between innings because his feet were killing him that bad. In Gainesville, literally throwing up in the dugout because we played such an early game after a night game of heat exhaustion and literally throwing up. And then just coming right back and taking the field.
"What he means to Kentucky, he epitomizes what it means to be a Wildcat. This guy would do anything to help Kentucky win. His journey started out at a Division III school, to the biggest stage in college baseball, and doing it when it matters the most. I just cannot say enough about him."
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is a proud supporter! Located in Beaumont Centre in Lexington, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii prides itself as a leader in sharing a wide variety of Hawaiian coffees. Whether you are in the mood for black coffee, a handcrafted latte, matcha, mana energy drink, or a variety of food items Bad Ass Coffee has just the thing for you! Once you get hooked on the coffee they have plenty of at home coffee available for purchase in store! So start your season off like a Bad Ass and visit them today! PLUS, they are offering our readers 20% off their orders! Just show this email, or if ordering online, apply coupon code "UKBaseball" at checkout and have a Bad Ass Day!
Living his dream, Bennett steps up in win
When I spoke with Bennett around this time last year after his commitment to the Wildcats, he told me that he "basically came out of the womb bleeding blue" and that Kentucky had "always been a dream school of mine to go to, much less play baseball for."
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Derek Terry
Derek Terry is the founder of Bat Cats Central, a leading source for Kentucky baseball coverage. Before leaving full-time sportswriting, Derek worked for The Cats' Pause (2017-22) and Cats Illustrated (2015-17), and interned with D1baseball.com.