Kentucky’s Victory Effort Stalled by #6 Texas in 4-4 Drop-Dead Tie

[Matt Dillon]

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Kentucky and Texas played to a 4-4 tie on Sunday afternoon to conclude the 2023 National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Lead-Off Classic in Clearwater, Florida.

Kentucky scored seven unanswered runs in the final three innings of the game and took a 7-4 lead after it hit in the eighth inning. The game had a drop-dead time of 3:30 p.m. ET due to the travel schedule of both teams leaving the Clearwater area tonight.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Texas was down to its last strike, with two outs in the inning and an 0-2 count – the 3:30 p.m. ET drop-dead time was reached and that ended the game. With Texas not completing its at bat in the eighth inning, by NCAA rules, the score reverts back to the most previously-completed inning, which in this case is the seventh inning.

Thus, the final score in the game is recorded as a 4-4 tie, the second tie in program history.

The NCAA Selection Committee will consider the game a tie when evaluating both teams for the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky’s Victory Effort Stalled by Uncategorized Groups Texas in 4-4 Drop-Dead Tie – UK Athletics​
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[Matt Dillon]

This is the dumbest rule I have ever heard of, it needs to be changed immediately.

[Lighthouse]

This is the dumbest rule I have ever heard of, it needs to be changed immediately.

Wow, I agree. Another NCAA blunder.

[Matt Dillon]

I understand the reasoning behind the rule. It's to ensure that teams that have flights booked have time to make connections. The bad part is when a coach (Texas) resorts to numerous stalling tactics to avoid defeat. Oh well, it could have been worse. If we had been behind at the end of the previous inning it would have gone down as a loss.

[Lighthouse]

I understand the reasoning behind the rule. It's to ensure that teams that have flights booked have time to make connections. The bad part is when a coach (Texas) resorts to numerous stalling tactics to avoid defeat. Oh well, it could have been worse. If we had been behind at the end of the previous inning it would have gone down as a loss.

I understand it too, but it seems like a travel secretary cost us a possible victory.