Following a weekend sweep at the hands of Alabama, the University of Kentucky baseballteam will look to get back on the winning track when it plays host to Belmont University onTuesday, March 20, at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
UK (10-11, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) had won eight of nine games before the Tidecame calling last weekend. The Cats have had success against Belmont in recent years,posting victories against the Bruins in each of the past three seasons: 10-9 in 1998, 7-6 in1999 and 6-4 last season.
Four Wildcats boast batting averages over .300. Spencer Prestons .355 mark leads theteam, with Vince Harrison (.325), Gordon Tyler (.317), and Caleb Brock (.306) all closebehind. In addition, Tyler is riding a hitting streak of 10 games, tying him for the longest of anyUK player this season. Seth Morris overtook Preston as the teams home run leader with tworound-trippers on Sunday. On the season, UK has hit 23 home runs, to only 13 by theopponents.
Despite the hiccups against Alabama, the Cats pitching staff continues to be impressive,sporting a 4.29 ERA and registering 151 strikeouts in only 184 2/3 innings (.82 per inning).
Belmont (18-8) enters Tuesdays contest the winner of 10 of its last 12 games. The Bruins areno strangers to opponents from the SEC, with UK the third BU has faced this season. TheBruins dropped both games to Vanderbilt and split two games with then 17th-ranked Georgiaearlier this season.
Kentucky and Belmont have two common opponents: Eastern Kentucky andTennessee-Martin. UK is 3-0 against those two teams while BU holds a 2-1 record over theColonels and Skyhawks.
Kentuckys starter for Tuesdays game has yet to be determined. Cody Fisher is thescheduled starter for BU, is 2-2 on the season, and carries an ERA of 3.65.
Tuesdays game will mark the finale of the longest homestand of the season for the Wildcats.UK is 5-2 in games at home this season.
First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST.
