May 6, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fresh off a walk-off win over No. 14 Arkansas to conclude the weekend series, Kentucky will return to action in hosting Wright State in a Tuesday tilt, with first-pitch at Cliff Hagan Stadium slated for 6:30 p.m. ET.
The game will be broadcast live on the UK IMG Radio Network, with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price, calling the action. Fans can hear the game live on WLAP 630-AM in Central Kentucky or online at UKathletics.com.
Kentucky (27-19) is coming off a grueling weekend against No. 14 Arkansas, the NCAA’s top pitching staff. The Wildcats suffered a 2-1 loss in the opener and a 5-3 setback in the middle game, before rebounding to claim the finale, 4-3 on a walk-off single in the ninth.
UK will send senior southpaw Jerad Grundy (5-5, 5.27 ERA) to the mound for his first career midweek start on Tuesday against Wright State freshman southpaw E.J. Trapino (1-2, 8.23 ERA). Grundy has made 11 weekend starts in 2013, tossing 66.2 innings, allowing 77 hits and 18 walks, striking out 53. In his last start on April 26 at No. 16 Ole Miss, Grundy worked 5.2 innings, allowing 12 hits and nine runs, walking two and striking out two. Trapino has appeared in 17 games with two starts in 2013, tossing 27.1 innings, allowing 29 hits and 27 walks, striking out 22.
UK has hit .256 as a team in 2013, with a .362 on-base and a .366 slugging percentage. UK has belted 30 homers and stolen 51 bases in 2013, adding 63 doubles and eight triples. On the mound, UK has a 3.36 ERA in 2013, tossing 417 innings, walking 123 and striking out 333. Defensively, UK has fielded .197 with 49 double plays turned, picking off 10 runners.
The Wildcats have been led offensively by freshman outfielder Kyle Barrett, who has hit .345 with four doubles, one triple, 12 RBI and four steals. Slugger A.J. Reed has hit .302 with eight doubles, two triples, 11 homers and 47 RBI, owning a 2-6 record and a 2.84 ERA on the mound as the Friday-night starter. J.T. Riddle has hit .286 with seven doubles, one triple, one homer and 19 RBI, stealing six bases, while outfielder Zac Zellers owns a .255 mark with three doubles, three homers and 25 RBI. Austin Cousino leads the team with 11 doubles and has hit .247, with one triple, six homers and 25 RBI, stealing 12 bases.
In relief for UK, senior righty Walter Wijas (2-0, 0.73 ERA) has appeared in 23 games, with Trevor Gott (4-1, 1.33 ERA) owning 10 saves in 20 outings. Sophomore righty Chandler Shepherd (4-0, 3.22 ERA) has appeared in 20 games and tossed 44.2 innings, with freshmen Ryne Combs (0-0, 1.37 ERA), Zach Strecker (1-1, 2.40 ERA), Kyle Cody (3-2, 4.86 ERA) and Dylan Dwyer (1-0, 4.38 ERA) each having impacts in their collegiate debuts.
Wright State (20-23) has hit .286 as a team, belting 23 homers, totaling a .411 slugging and a .362 on-base percentage. On the mound, the Raiders have a 5.23 ERA in 377 innings, walking 196 and striking out 321. Defensively, WSU has fielded .974 with 36 double plays, allowing 59-of-87 stolen base attempts, picking off 10 runners.
WSU has been led offensively by Kleston Greene, who has hit .338 with 10 doubles, three triples, four homers and 17 RBI. Garrett Gray has hit .338 with 11 doubles, three triples, four homers and 28 RBI, stealing eight bases. Kody Krizman has a .333 average with eight doubles, one triple, two homers and 15 RBI. Mark Fowler has a .320 average with six doubles, one triple, one homer and 23 RBI, stealing 10 bases.
In relief for the Raiders, Travis Hissong (1-1, 4.03 ERA) has five saves and 40 strikeouts in 26.2 innings pitched. Cody Koplichack (1-0, 5.40 ERA) and Trevor Swaney (4-0, 5.94 ERA) have each appeared in at least 20 games. Koplichack has struck out 50 and walked 26 in 35 innings.
UK leads the all-time series with Wright State, 11-7, including a 10-5 mark in games played in Lexington. UK has won five consecutive meetings in the series, including a 9-1 win in 2012. In the meeting in 2012, UK started A.J. Reed, who worked six innings, allowing seven hits and one run, striking out six. UK used Alex Phillips, Spencer Drake and Jeff Boehm in relief, with Reed batting 3-for-4 with three RBI. UK also got a two-hit game from Michael Williams and the fifth homer of the year from Cameron Flynn.
Records
Kentucky: 27-19
Wright State: 20-23
Schedule (times Eastern and subject to change) — Lexington, Ky.
Tuesday, May 7 * vs. Wright State * 6:30 p.m.
Radio (UK IMG Network with Neil Price)
Tuesday: WLAP 630-AM in Lexington
Internet Coverage
Live video, audio and stats on UKathletics.com (UKTube)
Tentative Pitching Matchups
Tuesday vs. Wright State
Sr., LHP Jerad Grundy (5-5, 5.27 ERA) vs. Fr., LHP E.J. Trapino (1-2, 8.23 ERA)
Stadium
Cliff Hagan Stadium (3,000)
Parking
Parking at Cliff Hagan Stadium is FREE.
UK will utilize three lots: the C8 lot behind Shively Sports Center, the R lot adjacent to the first base side and 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.
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
