Kentucky drew 11 walks, took seven hit by pitch and found a way to do just enough to outlast a Miami University team with a strong offense, registering a 14-11 victory in front of 3,733 fans enjoying the 80 degree weather at Kentucky Proud Park.
Kentucky now is 22-6 overall and 5-4 in the Southeastern Conference.
Four different players drove in multiple runs, five had multiple hits and five drew a hit by pitch as the No. 22 Wildcats figured out a way to claim their 22nd victory of the season. The Cats erased deficits of 3-1 and 10-7 along the way with three more innings of at least three runs scored, including a six-run fourth inning.
Hudson Brown, Carson Hansen and Will Marcy each drove in three runs, Ethan Hindle reached base in five plate appearances without logging a single official at bat, Jayce Tharnish swiped his 19th base and Luke Lawrence extended his reached base streak to 33 games.
Advertisement
On the flip side, the UK pitching staff did not have its best outing but Nile Adcock was sensational in pitching the final 2.2 innings. He escaped a bases loaded situation in the seventh inning but striking out a pair of hitters on six total pitches after entering the game and earned his second win.
NOTES
Kentucky is 22-6 on the season, 5-4 in SEC play.
UK is 140-68 since the beginning of 2023.
UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his 10th season at the helm and now owns a 315-198 career record.
Mingione is the second-winningest coach in school history.
Mingione is 186-54 in non-conference games.
He is 165-25 vs. non-Power Four opponents.
UK is 126-49 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
Mingione now is 8-0 vs. Miami.
Mingione is 21-5 vs. teams from the state of Ohio.
The Cats drew 10+ walks for the third time in the past five games.
UK was hit by seven pitches.
The Cats scored three runs or more three times.
They now have scored at least three runs in an inning 32 times this season.
IF Luke Lawrence has reached safely in 33 consecutive games.
OF Jayce Tharnish went 2-for-4 with 3 R, RBI, BB, HBP, SB.
Tharnish now is 19-of-20 on the season in stolen bases.
That ties for the 6th most in the Mingione Era in a season.
IF Ethan Hindle had five plate appearances without an official at bat.
Hindle went 0-for-0 with three walks, two HBP, three runs, an RBI and a steal.
IF Hudson Brown went 2-for-3 with a run, 3 RBI, 2B, HBP, BB, SF.
He has 12 multi-hit games this season.
OF Will Marcy went 1-for-4 with 3 RBI, 2B and BB.
It was his second extra base hit in two injury-riddled years with the Cats.
It’s a career high in RBI.
OF Carson Hansen had a two-run HR and RBI single.
RHP Nile Adcock got the win.
He allowed one run in 2.2 innings.
He entered in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and struck out two batters on six pitches to end the threat.
ON DECK
UK hosts Missouri this weekend beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game is on SECN+ and the contest can be heard on UK Sports Network.
MIAMI (WSVN) – A 21-year-old man was arrested on a charge of sexual battery on a minor by an adult and lewd or lascivious molestation stemming from an alleged incident involving a 10-year-old girl, according to an arrest report.
According to the report, Alvin Davis was arrested due in connection from an alleged incident that occurred Oct. 16, 2025, in Miami. The child’s mother, who became suspicious and placed a recording device in the child’s bedroom.
The report states the girl told investigators that Davis touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions.
Authorities said Davis was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is being held without bond.
Advertisement
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox
Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is expected to be a late first-round draft pick on Thursday night, which will bring him a guaranteed four-year contract worth around $20 million. But he considered turning that down for a big-money offer to stay in college.
Simpson, who has previously said that Miami offered him $6.5 million to transfer and play for the Hurricanes in 2026, said on David Pollack’s podcast that the money was too good not to at least think about.
“I think the last offer was definitely one that I just had to sit down and consider, because it would have been life-changing money,” Simpson said. “It would have made me the highest-paid player in college, and it was something to where I was like, I can’t just ignore this. I have to sit down and think about it. That’s how I am, I don’t want to do anything sporadic. I want to sit down and think it all out, and it really just came down to how I wanted to be remembered and what do I want to do.”
Simpson, who spent three years as a backup at Alabama before becoming the starter last year, went to his former coach, Nick Saban, for advice.
Advertisement
“I actually talked to Coach Saban about this,” Simpson said. “The things he was talking about were, do you want to play football in college, or do you want to play football professionally? And he was like, ‘Take the money out of it, take the rounds out of it, what do you want to do next year?’ And without a doubt, without hesitation, I said, ‘I want to play professional football.’ And he was like, ‘Well, there’s your answer.’ It was something that I’ve always dreamed of, and I felt that I was ready to take that next step and be the face of a franchise and lead a locker room.”
It’s a different world in football now that players might make more money with another year in college than their annual average salary will be in the NFL. Now, players have to think about whether the NCAA or the NFL will be more lucrative. NIL deals have changed both college football and pro football.
Photo Credit: @CanesFootball via X // redshirt senior wideout Cooper Barkate catches a 29-yard touchdown from Darian Mensah during Miami’s Spring Game on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Cobb Stadium.
After more than three months removed from a devastating national championship loss, over 5,000 fans gathered at Cobb Stadium on Saturday morning for a first look at Miami football’s 2026 squad.
The annual spring game offered exactly that: a mix of evaluation and entertainment. Miami structured the day differently this year, using the first half for position drills, including passing, red zone and agility work, before transitioning into a live scrimmage in the second half.
Advertisement
Much of the attention centered on new quarterback Darian Mensah, a transfer from Duke. While he started slow, Mensah quickly settled in and showed why he’s expected to lead the Hurricanes this fall.
Mensah connected multiple times with familiar target Cooper Barkate, his former teammate at Duke. The duo picked up right where they left off, highlighted by a 29-yard touchdown to the back corner of the end zone. Mensah added a 33-yard touchdown pass to Daylyn Upshaw and a five-yard score to Cam Vaughn, another transfer addition.
Calm in the pocket and effective under pressure, Mensah extended plays and delivered accurate throws, flashing the kind of playmaking ability Miami fans have been eager to see.
With several returning starters such as wide receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher seeing limited action, opportunities opened for younger players to contribute. RB Jordan Lyle capitalized, breaking off multiple strong runs and showing quick footwork in the open field.
Behind Mensah, Miami showcased its quarterback depth. Judd Anderson, Luke Nickel and early enrollee Dereon Coleman all saw snaps, with Nickel making a strong case for the backup role. Coleman flashed potential but remains a longer-term development piece.
Advertisement
Photo Credit: @CanesFootball via IG // Miami quarterback Darian Mensah performs handshake with redshirt senior wideout Cooper Barkate during Miami’s Spring Game on April 18, 2026, at Cobb Stadium.
Defensively, Miami may have delivered the most impressive performance of the day.
Despite losing key contributors such as Ruben Bain and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL, the Hurricanes controlled the line of scrimmage and limited offensive production. Defensive lineman Damon Wilson, a transfer from Missouri, along with tackles Justin Scott and Jarquez Carter, consistently disrupted plays. Scott’s quickness stood out against the run, while Wilson applied steady pressure off the edge.
In the secondary, Boston College transfer Omar Thornton, along with JJ Dunnigan and Xavier Lucas, contributed to multiple stops with tight coverage and physical tackling.
The offensive line, featuring several new faces and only one returning starter, showed flashes but remains a work in progress. Freshman Jackson Cantwell has big shoes to fill with Sisi Mauigoa declaring for the NFL draft. At 6-foot-8, 330 pounds, Cantwell acted as a brick wall protecting his QB and winning the battle at the line. However, the second team offensive line had some struggles, with two bad snaps in a row.
For many in attendance, however, the spring game was about more than just performance. It served as a rare opportunity for families and fans to connect with the program in a more personal setting, celebrating players beyond what they show on the field.
“It’s him fulfilling his dream and doing what he wants to do,” said the grandmother of wide receiver Milan Parris. “He’s my oldest grandson, and I’m just over the moon. I’m extremely proud of him.”
Advertisement
While the defense may have controlled much of the action, the day ultimately served as an early glimpse into a team balancing new talent, developing depth and high expectations.
With nearly five months until the season opener against Stanford on Sept. 4, Miami leaves the spring with promise and plenty to still refine.
