LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky baseball team returns to action this weekend with a three-game set against Buffalo at Cliff Hagan Stadium beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
The series continues Saturday at 1 p.m. before wrapping up on Sunday at 1 p.m. Fans receive free admission with a ticket stub from Wednesday night?s UK men?s basketball game against Auburn. All fans will receive free Kentucky Baseball winter scarves.
Kentucky is 3-1 on the young season after a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Cumberland on Wednesday. The Wildcats rallied from a 10-4 deficit in the bottom of the ninth for a 11-10 win. Junior Michael Bertram sealed the victory with a three-run walk-off home run. Friday will be the first game of the year for Buffalo.
?Wednesday?s win was a great win for our team,? said Kentucky head coach John Cohen. ?We struggled early, but our guys stayed in the game and kept battling and it worked out for us. We?re a young team and we?ll have some bumps in the road, but I loved the way our team came back from it.?
Kentucky opens the series by sending freshman Andrew Albers to the mound against the Bulls Adam Ruszkowski. Albers began his career last week by carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning en route to picking up the victory.
On Saturday, Louisville native Scott Green will get the start and Slaughters, Ky., native Kalen Gibson takes the hill Sunday. Green worked 5 2/3 innings last weekend against Charleston Southern and allowed just two runs but earned a no-decision. Gibson is a pre-season All-SEC honoree.
?We were really pleased with the performances we got from Andrew, Scott and Galen last week,? Cohen said. ?We are going to have to have those guys continue to step up this year to be successful.?
Bertram, a Lexington native, has paced the offense with a team-high .500 batting average and eight RBIs through the first four games. He has a seven-game hit streak dating back to last year.
Sophomore Billy Grace, Kentucky?s top hitter last season with a .331 average, has come alive at the plate with hits in five of his past six at bats.
?It?s still early in the season and everybody is making adjustments,? Cohen said. ?But, I like the way we have worked to get ready for this season and I think everybody will come around.?
Kentucky and Buffalo have never met.
