March 4, 2002

The University of Kentucky baseball team will play host to Western Michigan in a two-game series on Tuesday, March 5 and Wednesday, March 6 at Applebee’s Park. Both games between the Wildcats and Broncos are scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET starting time.

Kentucky and Western Michigan have battled on the diamond 12 times since their first meeting in 1973. UK, owning a 9-3 edge over WMU, last swept the Broncos in a two-game series in 1992, winning 5-2 and 12-4. Former major league pitchers Rodney Henderson and Mark Thompson earned the wins for UK.

The Wildcats (5-6) are led at the plate by senior Robert Newton, who went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBIs, two doubles and a home run in UK’s 6-3 win over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, March 2. For the week, the Cats’ first baseman went 8-for-12 (.667) from the plate, scored three runs, and recorded four RBIs, three doubles and a homer.

Western Michigan (1-2) visits the Bluegrass after a three-game series in Blacksburg, Va. with Virginia Tech. VTU right fielder Brad Bauder homered three times in the second game to give the Hokies a split of a doubleheader with WMU on Sunday afternoon at English Field. The Broncos won the seven-inning first game, 10-8 and Tech earned the split with a 12-7 win in the nightcap, which was stopped in the eighth inning due to darkness.

Freshman lefty Craig Snipp (0-0, 3.86 ERA, 9 K) is projected to take the mound on Tuesday for the Cats, while junior Rob Corrado (0-0, 12.15 ERA, 7 K) is scheduled for the start on Wednesday.

– UK –