Kentucky ? 13-3, 0-0 SEC
Cleveland State ? 1-6, 0-0 Horizon
Schedule (times Eastern) – Games Lexington, Ky. (Cliff Hagan Stadium ? 3,000)
Tuesday, March 14 vs. Cleveland State * 4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 15 vs. Cleveland State * 3 p.m.
Pitching Match-Ups
Tuesday vs. Cleveland State
LHP Chris Rusin, Fr. (0-0, 5.14) vs. RHP Nathan Shaefer, So. (0-0, 0.00)
Wednesday vs. Cleveland State
TBA vs. LHP Stephen Procner, Jr. (0-0, 9.00)
Projected UK Line-Up (Avg.-HR-RBI)
C (L) Sean Coughlin (.340-5-15, .720 Slug.)
-or- (R) Justin Scutchfield (.174-0-4, 2 2B)
1B (R) Ryan Strieby (.387-3-23, 10 2B)
2B (R) John Shelby (.196-0-6, 3 2B)
3B (L) Michael Bertram (.393-1-10, 10-game hit streak)
-or- (R) Matt McKinney (.478-0-6, 7 R)
SS (S) Ryan Wilkes (.333-0-7, .459 OBP)
LF (R) Collin Cowgill (.327-4-19, .655 Slug.)
-or- (R) Shaun Lehmann (.200-1-4, 1 SB)
CF (L) Antone DeJesus (.387-1-13, 20 R)
RF (L) Billy Grace (.333-1-7, .460 OBP)
DH (R) Brian Hastings (.235-0-10, 5 R)
Quick Notes
? Kentucky has won four straight games and seven of its last eight overall. The current start (13-3) is the team?s best start since 2000. Prior to that, the last time Kentucky started better was 1983.
? UK is opening SEC play at home for first time since 1999 when it welcomes five-time national champion LSU to Cliff Hagan Stadium.
? Kentucky ranks first in the SEC in runs, on-base percentage, doubles, RBIs, total bases and walks.
? The Wildcats are in the top three in the SEC in 11 of 14 offensive categories, including the aforementioned as well as batting average and home runs.
? UK has scored at least six runs in every game but one this year. In 63 percent of their games, the Wildcats have scored nine runs or more.
? Kentucky starters have nine quality starts (six or more innings, three or fewer runs) in 16 games and UK is 9-0 in those contests. By contrast, the Wildcats had nine quality starts all of last year.
? Kentucky has issued the fewest walks in the SEC with an average of 1.5 per game. The starters have allowed just 14 while striking out 71 in 96 innings.
? No UK starter has allowed more than five runs in an outing.
? After ranking last in the SEC in fielding last season, the Wildcats sit in the top half of the league this year. UK has 13 fewer errors right now than they did at this point in the season last year.
? Greg Dombrowski is 4-0 in four starts this season. The sophomore has a 1.29 earned-run average and has not walked a batter in 44.2 innings dating back to last season.
? Senior Michael Bertram has a career-best 10-game hitting streak since Feb. 26. He is hitting .429 during the run with six doubles, a home run and 10 RBIs.
LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky baseball team goes looks to extend its three-game win streak this week when it hosts Cleveland State in a pair of mid-week contests at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The week begins when UK meets the Vikings on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The two teams turn around to play a second game on Wednesday
It is the third straight week Kentucky will play two games as the Wildcats are in the midst of a 20-day stretch where they play 15 games. On the current 16-game homestand, Kentucky is 8-2.
Freshman left-hander Chris Rusin (0-0, 5.14) is expected to take the mound for UK Friday against CSU?s Nathan Shaefer (0-0, 0.00). Rusin started in Kentucky?s win over Western Kentucky last week. The Wildcats have not announced a starter for Wednesday yet while the Vikings send Stephen Procner (0-0, 9.00) to the hill.
Over the weekend, Kentucky steam-rolled North Dakota State for three wins by outscoring the Bison 36-6. Ryan Strieby blasted three doubles and a home run in the series while driving in nine. Michael Bertram had a hit in all three games to extend his career-best hitting streak to 10.
