Baseball Puts Home Winning Streak on the Line, Hosts Cincy
March 25, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Winners of a school-record 29 consecutive non-conference home games, dating back to 2007, the Kentucky baseball team hosts Cincinnati in a Wednesday mid-week showdown, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (15-6) is fresh off a loss at Big East power West Virginia (16-5), falling to the Mountaineers in Charleston, W.Va., at the home of the South Atlantic League’s West Virginia Power, Appalachian Power Park. UK, which lost 10-7 Tuesday, was not the only top Southeastern Conference team to fall victim of a mid-week upset, as No. 1 Georgia, No. 11 Ole Miss and No. 23 Florida all suffered setbacks to unranked teams, in home ballparks Tuesday.
UK’s loss came after both teams combined for 17 runs in the first four innings, with Kentucky starter Sean Bouthilette lasting 3.2 innings and reliever Mike Kaczmarek hurling 3.1 innings, combining to allow the 10 WVU runs. UK held a 7-5 lead entering the bottom of the fourth, but Bouthilette was chased from the game after a lead-off hit and Kaczmarek allowed his first four hitters to reach, including a game-changing grand slam to WVU’s clean-up hitter, Vince Belnome. UK got multi-hit games from sophomore catcher Brian Suerdick, shortstop Chris Wade and freshman Chad Wright, with lead-off man Chris Bisson contributing a team-best three RBI.
Cincinnati (11-8) is coming off a Tuesday night win over Miami (Ohio), in Cincinnati. The Bearcats have been led offensively by its All-American candidate, Mike Spina, who paces the club with 10 homers and 35 RBI, hitting for a .368 average. Lance Durham leads the team with a .458 average, adding three homers and 16 RBI, drawing a team-best 16 walks. Out of the bullpen, Andrew Burkett has made a team-high 10 appearances, posting a save and a 3.00 ERA, striking out 19 in 18 innings.
The Wildcats lead the all-time series with UC, 52-28-2, posting wins in the last two meetings, including a comeback 9-4 win at Marge Schott Stadium in 2008, a gritty win that saw a clutch homer from first-team All-American outfielder Collin Cowgill. In Lexington, UK leads the series with Cincinnati 36-12-1, with the series evened 15-15-1 in games played in Cincinnati. UK has won four of the last six meetings, with the last loss coming in 2006, during UK’s SEC Championship campaign.
The game can be heard live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio), with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price calling the action. Fans in Lexington can hear the game on WGVN 1580-AM.
Records
Kentucky – 15-6, 3-3 SEC
Cincinnati – 11-7, 1-2 Big East
Rankings
Kentucky – receiving votes (USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, NCBWA)
Cincinnati – not ranked
Schedule (times Eastern and subject to change) – Lexington, Ky.
Wednesday, March 25 * 6:30 p.m.
Radio (BBSN with Neil Price)
Wednesday: WGVN 1580-AM in Lexington
Stadium
Cliff Hagan Stadium (3,000)
Promotions
WEBSITE WEDNESDAY
During Website Wednesday’s, fans can print off a special admission coupon by visiting UKathletics.com
Parking
Parking at Cliff Hagan Stadium is free.
UK will utilize two lots: the C8 lot behind Shively Sports Center, and the brand-new Parking Structure 7 on the corner of Complex Drive and Jerry Claiborne Way. Both parking lots are only steps away from Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Fans who park in the PS7 lot will be given a parking value card to exit the structure free of charge. Value cards should be picked up at the baseball ticket booth prior to the fifth inning.
Fans should not use the university “R” lots adjacent to the dorms or on the south side of Nutter Training Facility. These lots are patrolled by the university 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Fans that park in these lots may be ticketed or towed. Plenty of parking will be available in the C8 and PS7 lots.
Tickets
SINGLE GAME TICKET PRICES
$5 – General Admission Seating – Adults
$2 – General Admission Seating – Kids/Seniors
SEASON TICKET PRICES
$35 General Admission
$55 Reserved Seating
