May 10, 2001

The University of Kentucky baseball team will close out its 2001 season this weekend when the Wildcats play host to #12 Georgia in a three-game Southeastern Conference series starting Friday, May 11, 2001, at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

UK (21-32, 6-21 SEC) is coming off of an impressive win over Winthrop on Tuesday and will be looking to spoil the Bulldogs hopes of an SEC Eastern Division crown. With only three games remaining, UGA (37-15, 18-9 SEC) holds a two game advantage over Tennessee for first-place in the division.

Senior RHP Jon Hooker leads the Wildcats pitching staff with a 2.62 ERA. Hooker, who will be playing his final games at Cliff Hagan Stadium this weekend, has struck out 43 batters in only 34-1/3 innings of work. Scott Wade, UK’s No. 1 starter the entire season, leads the pitching staff with 97.2 innings pitched. Wade will likely take the mound in Sunday’s season finale.

UGA is led by preseason All-America shortstop Jeff Keppinger. Keppinger is the Bulldogs leading hitter with a .360 average. On the mound, the Dawgs are led by relief pitcher Jeffery Carswell. Carswell has a perfect 9-0 record, with an ERA of 1.85 over the course of 43-2/3 innings.

Friday’s series opener gets underway at 6 p.m. Both Saturday’s and Sunday’s game are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Prior to Sunday’s series finale, UK will honor its three senior team members.

UGA leads the all-time series with UK 99-77. The two teams first met in 1903. The Wildcats have won the previous three series with the Bulldogs. Last season, the Cats escaped Athens with a 2-1 series win.