LEXINGTON ? The seventh-ranked Kentucky baseball team looks to continue its winning ways on when it welcomes Belmont on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The Wildcats have won 12 of their last 13 overall, including five straight. At home, UK has won nine straight and the team has won 12 consecutive over non-conference foes. The game is the final one for Kentucky out of the Southeastern Conference until a potential NCAA Tournament match up.
After Wednesday?s match up, UK hosts Mississippi State for a three-game set before wrapping up the regular season next week at Georgia.
Lexington native Tommy Warner (2-0, 3.72), a southpaw, will get the starting nod on the hill for Kentucky against right-hander Ben Meador (4-3, 4.99). Warner hurled a complete game two weeks ago in a start against Murray State while earning the win.
As a whole, the UK pitching staff has been excellent over the past five games at home. The team has combined to allow only 11 runs on 32 hits in those five games.
Meanwhile, Meador will have to face a Kentucky offense which leads the SEC in nearly everything. The Wildcats have absolutely mashed non-conference foes, to the tune of a .325 team batting average and 9.75 runs per game.
Records
Kentucky ? 37-11, 16-8 SEC
Belmont ? 21-26, 8-16 Atlantic Sun
Rankings
Kentucky ? No. 7 Collegiate Baseball
Belmont – not ranked
Schedule (times Eastern)
Lexington, Ky. (Cliff Hagan Stadium ? 3,000)
Wednesday, May 10 vs. Belmont * 6:30 p.m.
Radio
WLAP 630-AM in Lexington
Television
none
Pitching Match-Ups
Wednesday vs. Belmont
LHP Tommy Warner (2-0, 3.72) vs. RHP Ben Meador (4-3, 4.99)
Projected UK Line-Up (Avg-HR-RBI)
C (L) Sean Coughlin (.329-11-42)
-or- (R) Justin Scutchfield (.213-0-8)
1B (R) Ryan Strieby (.342-14-64)
2B (R) John Shelby (.283-13-47)
3B (R) Matt McKinney (.304-2-14)
SS (S) Ryan Wilkes (.259-1-19)
LF (R) Shaun Lehmann (.238-6-24)
CF (L) Antone DeJesus (.339-4-28)
RF (R) Collin Cowgill (.326-12-47)
DH (L) Billy Grace (.270-6-26)
-or- Brian Hastings (.275-0-13)
Quick Notes
? At No. 7 in the latest Collegiate Baseball poll, Kentucky has earned its highest ranking in school history. The Wildcats have been ranked each of the past eight weeks after not being ranked for six year.
? Riding a five-game win streak, Kentucky has vaulted into first-place in the SEC. UK is one game up on Alabama and holds a three-game lead in the Eastern Division over South Carolina and Georgia.
? Of the 14 main statistical categories, Kentucky leads the SEC in eight, including runs per game at 8.46 per game. The Wildcats are also first in on-base percentage, slugging, RBIs, home runs, doubles and walks.
? Kentucky is 25-4 at home this year. The Wildcats have won nine straight and 21 of their last 23 at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
? In non-conference games, UK is 21-3 and has won 12 straight. Wednesday?s game will likely be UK?s last until an NCAA Regional.
? Ryan Strieby ranks seventh in the nation and leads the SEC with 64 RBIs. The total is third best in school annals. He also leads the league in doubles with 20, which is seventh best in school history.
? In the SEC, there are 10 players with at least 10 home runs and 10 doubles. Four of them play for Kentucky: Ryan Strieby, Sean Coughlin, Collin Cowgill and John Shelby.
? With 13 home runs and 10 stolen bases, John Shelby has hit at least 10 homers and stolen at least 10 bases for the second straight year. He is the first Wildcat to do so since 1987 and the second ever. He and Danny Hamblin are the only two to go 10-10 in the SEC.
? Starting pitcher Tommy Warner threw a complete game in his last outing to beat Murray State.
? Andrew Albers has a win and four saves in his last five appearances. He has allowed one run in that span.
