March 9, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Riding a program-best 27 game non-conference, home winning streak, the 29th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats host Georgetown (Ky.) College in a Tuesday midweek tilt, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (9-2) is riding a seven-game winning streak, dating back to back-to-back setbacks at No. 13 Coastal Carolina to open the season. The Wildcats have posted impressive wins in cozy Cliff Hagan Stadium, including walk-off wins in two of UK’s last four games. UK is coming off a three-game sweep of hot-hitting Indiana State, a team that entered the series with the Wildcats owning a 9-2 record and averaging over eight runs per game. Indiana State, which owned three wins at the Citadel and a win over Indiana, was outscored 26-10 in the three-game set.
The game will be broadcast live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio), with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price calling the action. Fans in Lexington can catch the game live on WGVN 1580-AM or online at UKathletics.com.
The Wildcats have not lost a home, non-conference game since the 2007 season, a loss to Morehead State.
UK has been led by a .325 team batting average and a dominating pitching staff that has posted a 3.71 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 97 innings. The pitching staff has been paced by James Paxton (3-0, 3.63 ERA) and Chris Rusin (2-1, 3.63 ERA), UK’s Friday and Saturday starters. Rusin leads the conference in strikeouts, with Paxton ranking third in the league. Offensively, catcher Marcus Nidiffer (.429 avg. 2 HR, 11 RBI), second baseman Chris Bisson (.415, 3 2B, HR, 14 RBI, 4-4 SB), shortstop Chris Wade (.333, 2 2B, HR, 13 RBI, 5-5 SB) and infielder Spencer Korus (.350, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI) have helped carry the load. Freshmen Braden Kapteyn (.407, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI), Chad Wright (.348, 2 2B, HR, 9 RBI), Cory Farris (.300, 7 RBI) and Andy Burns (.259, 3B, HR, 9 RBI) have also had an immediate impact in the UK lineup.
UK has not faced Georgetown College since the 2005 season, with UK holding a 63-11 all-time advantage in the series, which began in 1903. In the game in 2005, UK edged the Tigers 6-4 at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
