April 29, 1999
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Wildcats’ baseball team (18-25, 8-13 SEC) returns to conference action, traveling to Columbia, S.C., for a three-game series beginning on Friday, April 30, at 7 p.m. against the South Carolina Gamecocks (31-15, 12-9 SEC).
The Wildcats have won two of their last three conference series and three of their last four. UK needs to take at least two of three games this weekend in order to stay in the race for the No. 2 spot in the SEC Eastern Division. The top two teams from each division and four wild card teams will advance to post-season play in Birmingham, Ala. UK must finish in second place to qualify for the SEC tournament.
Friday’s game will mark the 29th meeting between the two schools with UK holding a 15-13 advantage. Coach Keith Madison has compiled a 13-10 lifetime record against the Gamecocks. Kentucky defeated South Carolina in two out of three games last season with late inning heroics by 1998 standout and future San Diego Padres’ draftee Josh Loggins to qualify for the SEC Tournament.
Kentucky enters the weekend after a disappointing midweek schedule, giving up two runs in the top of the ninth inning to lose to the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky on Tuesday, April 27. The long-awaited UK-Louisville rematch rained out on Wednesday, April 28.
Sophomore John Wilson is leading the SEC with 18 home runs on the season. The Northridge, Calif. native has carried the team this season, at one point hitting nine home runs in eight games. Juniors Aaron McGlone and Andy Green have been on the rise lately, improving their batting averages by over 40 points in the last ten games.
Kentucky’s starting rotation has gotten stronger with every start. Junior Nathan Kent picked up his third consecutive victory and his second consecutive SEC complete game on Sun., April 25, against the Tennessee Volunteers. Kent and junior Ben Shaffar are tied for the team lead with 82 strikeouts this season.
Saturday’s game will be televised by Fox Sports South as the SEC Game of the Week. The game marks UK’s third television appearance this season. The Wildcats are 1-1 when playing on television.
For more information on the UK Baseball team, please contact Lauren Smith at (606) 257-3838 or via email at RLSmit5@pop.uky.edu
Kentucky at South Carolina
April 30-May 2, 1999
Where: Sarge Frye Field, Columbia, SC.
Game Times: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV/Radio: Gamecock Radio Network (all three games); Fox Sports South TV on Saturday
The Series: Kentucky leads 15-13
Last Meeting: Kentucky took two out of three games last year in Lexington.
Kentucky Wildcats (18-25, 8-13 SEC)
Probable Lineup:
2B Andy Green (.270, 0 HR, 17 RBI)
CF Beau Moore (.291, 6 HR, 22 RBI)
1B Aaron McGlone (.331, 13 HR, 41 RBI)
C John Wilson (.349, 18 HR, 41 RBI)
DH Robert Newton (.402, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
SS Vince Harrison (.275, 4 HR, 19 RBI)
RF Breck Price (.319, 9 HR, 25 RBI)
3B Will Crumbaugh (.296, 3 HR, 11 RBI)
LF Taylor McInnis (.247, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
Starting Pitchers:
Friday: Nathan Kent (Jr., RHP, 4-5, 4.29 ERA)
Saturday: Brandon Webb (So., RHP, 2-5, 5.73 ERA)
Sunday: Ben Shaffar (Jr., RHP, 4-4, 5.57 ERA)
Rankings: None
Coach: Keith Madison (630-505-4 in 21 years at UK)
South Carolina Gamecocks (31-15, 12-9 SEC)
Probable Lineup:
SS Brian Roberts (.353, 7 HR, 23 RBI)
LF Nate Janowicz (.333, 7 HR, 44 RBI)
RF Adam Poe (.415, 2 HR, 39 RBI)
DH Tim Angiolini (.318, 9 HR, 56 RBI)
3B Clint Collins (.228, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
1B Trey Dyson (.327, 3 HR, 22 RBI)
CF Marcus McBeth (.297, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
C Tim Whittaker (.140, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
2B Jay Lambert (.231, 0 HR, 13 RBI)
Starting Pitchers:
Friday: Kip Bouknight (RHP, 6-3, 3.86 ERA)
Saturday: Randy Hadden (RHP, 7-2, 4.85 ERA)
Sunday: Peter Bauer (RHP, 5-1, 4.02 ERA)
Rankings: No. 28 in Collegiate Baseball
Coach: Ray Tanner (108-57 in 2 years at South Carolina)
Game Notes:
John Wilson is leading the SEC with 18 homeruns.
Nathan Kent has thrown two consecutive SEC complete games and won his last three starts.
