Brendan McKay Is Again At The Center Of Louisville’s Win

LOUISVILLE—As Brendan McKay walked off the mound in the seventh inning Saturday night, Louisville coach Dan McDonnell turned to the crowd of 4,060 people at Jim Patterson Stadium and implored them to make some noise.

McKay was walking off the mound after holding Oklahoma to one run on three hits in 6.1 innings of the winners’ bracket game in the Louisville Regional. The lefthander had struck out seven batters, walked two and given his team a chance to win the all-important second game of regionals for the third year in a row.

McDonnell said he just wanted to make sure Louisville’s fans appreciated McKay’s outing. They responded, roaring their cheers as McKay exited.

“You don’t know if he’s going to get a chance to do that again,” McDonnell said. “For three straight years he’s thrown in the 1-0 game (of regionals). It’s the biggest game in college baseball. Get off your seat and recognize the greatest player to ever play here.”

When McKay exited, the game still hung in the balance with the score tied at one and a runner on first for the Sooners. It wouldn’t stay that way for long. Righthander Jake Sparger retired the next two batters to finish the seventh, and the Cardinals offense exploded in the eighth as they went on for an 11-1 victory. Louisville advances to Sunday’s regional final, while Oklahoma will face Xavier in an elimination game.

Saturday was an important start for McKay as he makes his final starts before the draft. The junior remains in the mix to be the first overall pick, but down the stretch, there had been talk around the game that McKay was tired. No one faulted him—he carries such a hefty load as Louisville’s ace and cleanup hitter. But he had averaged 5.1 innings in his last three starts and surrendered a total of 10 runs (eight earned) amid reports that his stuff was down a tick.

McKay banished that talk Saturday. He sat 91-93 mph with his fastball, touching 94, and held it deep into his outing. He was able to spot his fastball to both sides of the plate and worked in his offspeed offerings. For good measure, he went 1-for-4 at the plate with a two-run double and a walk.

McKay said he felt better Saturday than he had in his recent starts.

“I hadn’t thrown my best stuff the last three or four weeks,” he said. “I came out with the mentality I was going to attack people and let my defense do some work behind me as well.”

McKay got two extra days of rest following his start last Thursday at the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. That, as well as the added excitement of pitching in the NCAA Tournament, might have helped him get back to the top of his game.

“I don’t know if it was getting an extra day’s rest or the adrenaline from the postseason and the atmosphere we have with the great fans,” he said. “Everything feels a little different, the ball comes out of your hand a little different, it’s got a bit more life to it and everything just from that feeling of something being on the line with a little more purpose.”

McDonnell said the extra days of rest were good for McKay both physically and mentally. After a long regular season, he came into his first start in the NCAA Tournament refreshed.

“I felt like he was going to throw hard,” McDonnell said. “He threw hard in this game last year, harder than he normally does. It’s just been a long day and just the extra days rest and the adrenaline from the fans really helped him.”

McKay is now 9-3, 2.31 with 131 strikeouts in 97.1 innings this season. His seventh strikeout of the night was the 376th of his career at Louisville, tying him with Kyle Funkhouser (who did it in four seasons) for the most in program history.

The Cardinals need just one more win this weekend to reach super regionals and assure McKay of another start to break his former teammate’s record. McKay, as is his nature, was not aware of the impending record until after Saturday’s game.

McDonnell said it was fitting that McKay tied the record in a regional game, a format he has excelled in. But he also said it was fitting that McKay was unaware of the moment.

“I think that’s why he’s been such a great teammate and elevated this program,” McDonnell said. “You never feel like he’s chasing the accolades. He just wants to win. He loves to compete. We’re so blessed to have him. I’m appreciative that the fans realized what a special night it was for him.”