Liolios Launches Into History: Ties Single-Season Home Run Record as Wildcats Power Past Notre Dame
In a performance that etched his name into program history, Nick Liolios delivered a thunderous home run to tie the single-season home run record, helping propel the Kentucky Wildcats to a statement win over Notre Dame in a thrilling matchup that had fans on their feet from the first pitch to the final out.
A Historic Swing
It was the bottom of the sixth inning when Liolios stepped to the plate with a runner on and the game knotted at a tense standstill. With one swing, he sent a towering blast over the left-field fence—his 19th homer of the season—tying the long-standing single-season home run record set by a former Wildcats great. The crowd erupted, knowing they were witnessing a moment of greatness not seen in years.
“It’s an honor to even be mentioned in the same sentence as the legends who’ve worn this jersey,” Liolios said postgame. “But I’m just focused on helping this team win and staying locked in every at-bat.”
Wildcats Control the Diamond
Liolios wasn’t the only star of the night. The Wildcats turned in a complete team performance, combining timely hitting, sharp baserunning, and clutch pitching to secure a 7-3 victory over a determined Notre Dame squad.
Freshman pitcher Drew Callahan earned the win, tossing 6.2 innings of solid baseball, striking out eight and allowing just three runs. The bullpen shut the door behind him, with relievers keeping Notre Dame off the scoreboard through the final innings.
Offensively, Evan Byers added to the fireworks with a two-RBI double in the third, while Cameron Steele chipped in a key sacrifice fly that extended the Wildcats’ lead late in the game.
A Record in Reach—and a Team on the Rise
With the postseason looming, Liolios now sits on the brink of breaking the all-time single-season home run record, a feat that seemed unlikely at the beginning of the year. His consistency and raw power have made him one of the most feared bats in the conference, and his leadership has sparked a Wildcats squad that is peaking at just the right time.
Head coach Nick Mingione had nothing but praise: “Nick is the kind of player every coach dreams of—dedicated, humble, and lethal at the plate. This team feeds off his energy.”
Eyes on the Future
The win improves Kentucky’s record to 34-11, further solidifying their standing in the NCAA tournament picture. With Liolios chasing history and the Wildcats locked in as a unit, this team is starting to feel like one built for a deep postseason run.
They’ll look to carry this momentum into their next series as they continue to fight for conference dominance—and as Liolios eyes one more swing to make history all his own.
Up Next: The Wildcats return to action this weekend in a three-game series that could determine their seeding fate. All eyes will be on Liolios—will he break the record and push Kentucky further into the national spotlight? Stay tuned.
