A one out error in the ninth by Ball St. shortstop Eric Earnhart gave the Cat fans some hope for a late inning rally. Really, though, UK never threatened. Reliever Kyle Heyne struck out the next batter, and Shaun Lehmann ended the game with a ground out to third.

Ben Snyder pitched eight very strong innings to earn the win, striking out nine and allowing only one run. Heyne got the save, his twelfth on the year. Craig Snipp pitched another strong game for Kentucky only to be let down by an offense that has suddenly gone anemic.

After a poor showing at the SEC tourney, the Wildcats, for the first time this season, have lost four in a row. They will play Notre Dame tomorrow in the morning game. Before play began today, Notre Dame and Kentucky were the two favorites to compete for the regional championship. Instead, one of them will be eliminated by this time tomorrow.