No. 4 Kentucky Opens SEC Gauntlet at No. 5 Arkansas

LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the second time in as many weekends Kentucky will face a top five opponent, this time traveling to No. 5 Arkansas to open the 30-game Southeastern Conference season. It is the sixth consecutive season the Wildcats start league play on the road, but that didn’t faze them last year when they went to Texas A&M and swept the Aggies.
 
  The task will be even tougher this season with an impressive Arkansas team welcoming the Cats to one of the nation’s most difficult places to play. The Razorbacks feature one of the most explosive offenses in the country and a pitching staff that ranks    second in the SEC with a 2.28 team ERA, with staff ace Blaine Knight sitting 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA.
 
  The Wildcats are coming off a series win over No. 3 Texas Tech, dealing the Red Raiders their first two losses of the season while scoring double-digit runs in each of those games behind a relentless and opportunistic offense. Friday starter Sean Hjelle    (4-0, 1.35 ERA) set the tone and the Cats’ bullpen extricated itself from several sticky situations to prove itself on a national stage. 
 
  First pitch is 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday and aired on the SEC Network as part of Bases Loaded coverage of Opening Day in the SEC. Saturday (3 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.) will be streamed on SECN+.
 
 
WEEKEND DETAILS
Friday at #5 Arkansas
    7:30 p.m. ET; Baum Stadium; Fayetteville, Ark.
    TV/Online: SEC Network (Bases Loaded) and SECN+
    Radio: 630 AM WLAP; ukathletics.com
    Probables: RHP Sean Hjelle (4-0, 1.35) vs.
 
Saturday at #5 Arkansas
    3 p.m. ET; Baum Stadium; Fayetteville, Ark.
    Online: SECN+
    Radio: 98.5 FM or 630 AM WLAP; ukathletics.com
    Probables: TBA vs. TBA
 
Sunday at #5 Arkansas
    2 p.m. ET; Baum Stadium; Fayetteville, Ark.
    Online: SECN+
    Radio: 630 AM WLAP; ukathletics.com
    Probables: RHP Justin Lewis (3-1, 4.07) vs. TBA