April 15, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky softball game against No. 4 Tennessee on Saturday, April 26 at John Cropp Stadium has been moved up to a 5 p.m. ET first pitch. The three-game series with the Volunteers starts Friday, April 25 with a 6 p.m. first pitch and concludes Sunday, April 27 with a 2 p.m. series finale.
The Southeastern Conference softball series between Kentucky and Tennessee is part of Big Blue Weekend at UK as the baseball team will host a three-game series with Ole Miss and the football team will hold its annual Blue/White Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Gates for Saturday’s softball game will open two hours prior to first pitch at 3 p.m. ET with the UK team taking batting practice on the field for fans. The first 100 fans into John Cropp Stadium for the game will receive a set of 2014 softball trading cards, while the entire UK team will sign autographs after the game. Additionally, fans that enter John Cropp Stadium between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. will be eligible to receive a Nike prize package and will get a $1 coupon to use at the concession stand. Fans who present their ticket to the Blue/White Spring Game will receive free admission into Saturday’s softball game.
Due to the multi-event day on campus, softball fans are encouraged to arrive early and should expect heavy traffic congestion. Parking for the day is on a first-come, first-served basis with football and softball parking using shared lots.
Single-game tickets into John Cropp Stadium are $5 for adults, $2 for seniors (65+) and youth (6-18). Children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge. Tickets are all general admission, and can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 1-800-928-2287. Tickets are also sold at John Cropp Stadium prior to each game, and all sales are cash only.
Big Blue Weekend Schedule
Friday, April 25
Softball vs. Tennessee – 6 p.m. ET
Baseball vs. Ole Miss – 6:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 26
Baseball vs. Ole Miss – 1 p.m. ET
Blue/White Spring Football Game – 3:30 p.m. ET
Softball vs. Tennessee – 5 p.m. ET
Sunday, April 27
Baseball vs. Ole Miss – 1 p.m. ET
Softball vs. Tennessee – 2 p.m. ET
Softball Moves Back Into Top 10 at No. 8/10 in National Rankings: For the sixth time this season, the University of Kentucky softball team has found itself inside the top 10 in both the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 and ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25, sitting No. 8 and No. 10 respectively, it was announced Tuesday.
Kentucky (36-8) was ranked 11th in both polls last week, moving up three spots in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 and one spot in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25. The jump came after Kentucky went 5-0 last week, defeating Wright State and Mississippi Valley State in non-conference games before a series sweep at Ole Miss over the weekend.
The rankings mark the 26th consecutive week UK has landed inside the top 25 in both polls, which is the longest stretch of consecutive rankings in school history. Kentucky was ranked in 17 consecutive polls from Feb. 2011 to Feb. 2012. The Wildcats started this 26-week stretch Feb. 12, 2013. UK earned its highest ever ranking during this stretch, peaking at No. 5/6 earlier this season.
Kentucky has earned the top-10 ranking after defeating some of the best teams in the nation this season. The Wildcats have 10 wins over teams either currently ranked or receiving votes in either poll, while it is scheduled to play seven more games this season against currently ranked teams with three-game sets against No. 4/4 Tennessee and No. 15/18 Georgia. UK also has a single game left with Louisville, who is receiving votes in both polls.
Softball Hosts Arkansas this Weekend at John Cropp Stadium: Currently riding a seven-game winning streak, the Kentucky softball team will look to continue its winning ways this weekend when it plays host to Arkansas for a three-game SEC series at John Cropp Stadium.
The series begins Friday with a 6 p.m. ET first pitch before a 6 p.m. start on Saturday and 1 p.m. first pitch in Sunday’s series finale. Friday and Saturday night’s games will be televised by the UK/IMG Sports Network on CWKYT in Central Kentucky and on the entire Fox Sports South footprint. Live stats and free radio for all three games will be available online at UKathletics.com.
Fans will have countless promotions to get involved with this weekend at John Cropp Stadium, including the entire UK team signing autographs on Saturday and Sunday following each game. The series will serve as Little League Weekend at JCS as all little leaguers will receive free admission to all three games, while a poster station will be set up on the main concourse for fans to make a poster to help cheer on the Wildcats. The first 100 fans into John Cropp Stadium on Sunday will receive a set of 2014 softball trading cards.
For the latest on UK softball, follow “@UKSoftball” on Twitter and Instagram or like Kentucky Softball on Facebook.
