Earlier this week on a rain-logged Cliff Hagan Stadium field, the Kentucky Wildcats (43-23) celebrated the ascendance of the program to new heights in the only way that makes sense in baseball: a dogpile.
Fast forward to Saturday afternoon and the upstart Bat Cats had to watch their archrival, the Louisville Cardinals (52-10), storm onto the field in jubilation, on their way to Omaha for the fourth time under skipper Dan McConnell.
The 6-2 final score was closer than it reads on the stats sheet, and Kentucky had its chances, especially against Cards ace Brendan McKay.