PADUCAH, Ky. — The Kentucky baseball team returns to action with its final road game of the season, traveling to Paducah, Ky. to face off with the Murray State Racers. First pitch on Tuesday night is set for 7 p.m. EDT at Brooks Stadium.
?Murray State is a good club from a very competitive Ohio Valley Conference,? Kentucky head coach John Cohen said. ?We are very excited to get to play a game in front of all our Paducah fans, who don?t always get a chance to see us in Lexington. Murray is going to bring a lot of energy to the game and we need to counter that energy and bring a tremendous poise to the game.?
Kentucky (33-17-1, 12-14-1 Southeastern Conference) enters the mid-week showdown fresh off a series win over No. 18 Ole Miss in Oxford. The Wildcats captured the series opener with a dominating 8-1 performance, behind starter Chris Rusin. Rusin, who was named SEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday, worked his second career complete game, hurling nine innings, striking out four and allowing no earned runs. UK dropped the second game of the series before rebounding for the series win on Sunday. The Wildcats got a stellar pitching performance from preseason All-American Greg Dombrowski, who worked 6 2/3 innings before handing the ball over the junior Aaron Lovett, who picked up his sixth save of the season.
Murray State (17-31, 11-11 Ohio Valley Conference) enters the game ranked sixth in the OVC. The Breds? are looking for a mid-week win to build momentum as it enters the pivotal final weeks of the season, fighting for a spot in the OVC Tournament, which takes the top six teams in the league. MSU has been led at the plate by Seth Hudson, who is batting for a club-best .383 average.
The Wildcats lead the SEC in several offensive categories, including runs scored (440), on-base percentage (.438), RBI (400), triples (22), walks (300), and sacrifice bunts (65). UK?s holds a commanding advantage in the sacrifice bunts category, holding 27 more then the next closest team. Ryan Wilkes owns the school career (29) and single season (13) records for sacrifice bunts, including leading the league in the category.
Among the individual leaders for the Wildcat club are seniors Mike Brown and Sean Coughlin. Brown leads the league in runs scored with 65, while posting a team high .375 average. Coughlin ranks tops in the SEC with 68 RBI, including a team-best 12 home runs. First baseman Sawyer Carroll leads the league in doubles, cranking out 21 two baggers. Junior Brian Spear ranks on top of the league in walks, with 46. Spear is merely two walks shy of the single-season school record for bases on balls. Junior centerfielder Antone DeJesus leads the SEC in hit by pitches, tallying 19.
UK took the first game from the Breds? in the home opener for the Wildcats, 8-5. The Wildcats got three-hit performances from Matt McKinney and Carroll in UK?s win. The contest on Tuesday will be held in Paducah at a former minor league ballpark, Brooks Stadium.
Freshman Paducah native Clint Tilford gets the starting nod for the Wildcats. Tilford has appeared in 10 games this season, notching starting assignments in three. The right-hander has tossed 16 1/3 innings, striking out 11, accumulating a 1-0 record and a 4.96 ERA. Tilford is joined by high school teammate Brock Wright as current Wildcats from Paducah.
Fans in Lexington (WLAP 630-AM) can catch the action live with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price calling the action. Fans can communicate with Neil by emailing him questions and comments via the bigblueinbox@gmail.com.
Fans can also catch the action live via webcast for a one-time fee of $5.95, by logging on to OVCSports.TV.
Team Records
Kentucky (33-17-1, 12-14-1 SEC) vs. Murray State (17-31, 11-11 OVC)
Date/Time
Tuesday, May 15 * 7 p.m. EDT
Stadium
Brooks Stadium (1,500)
Radio (Big Blue Sports Network with Neil Price)
Tuesday: WLAP 630-AM Lexington
Video
Live via webcast for $5.95 on OVCSports.TV
Series Record
Kentucky leads the all-time series with Murray State, 9-4 ? In UK?s home opener this season, Kentucky claimed the first meeting, 8-5.
Pitching Matchups
Tuesday
UK: Clint Tilford (Fr., RHP) 1-0, 4.96 ERA, 16.1 IP, 26 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 7 BB, 11 SO
MSU: Brad Rowland (Fr., RHP) 2-5, 7.58 ERA, 57 IP, 86 H, 56 R, 48 ER, 20 BB, 49 SO
