LEXINGTON ? The seventh-ranked Kentucky baseball team plays its final regular season home series of the year this weekend when it hosts No. 19 Mississippi State in a three-game set beginning on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The series resumes Saturday at 7 p.m. before wrapping up on Sunday at 1 p.m. Games one and two are scheduled to be televised by the Big Blue Sports Network and can be seen on UPN in Lexington (Insight channel 5) as well as on FSN in selected markets.
Fans can listen to all three games as well. Friday?s game is slated for WLAP 630-AM while the final two are on WXRA 1580-AM in Lexington. The games can also be heard on Kentucky?s official website, www.UKathletics.com.
Entering the series, Kentucky (37-11, 16-8 Southeastern Conference) is the hottest team in the nation. The Wildcats have won 12 of their last 13 and jumped 14 spots in the rankings to No. 7 over the last three weeks. With nine wins in its last 10 conference games, UK has taken over sole possession of first place in the SEC, one game ahead of Alabama. Kentucky holds a three-game lead over South Carolina and Georgia for first place in the SEC Eastern Division.
The Wildcats magic number is three to claim a share of their first division championship in 30 years and could clinch a share of the crown this weekend. Kentucky needs only one win to seal a spot in the SEC Tournament for the first time in 2000.
Mississippi State comes into town holding on to the No. 8 spot in the SEC standings, a mere half game ahead of LSU for the coveted final spot in the SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 in the nation just two months ago after starting the year 18-0. However, they have since gone 15-16 and are just below .500 in the conference at 11-12.
While Sunday?s game is the final one at home for nine Kentucky seniors, the group will be honored prior to Saturday night?s contest. The group has led the Wildcats to a stellar 25-4 mark in front of the home crowd this season.
Last weekend, the UK pitching staff was brilliant, holding an explosive Ole Miss club to only six runs over three games en route to a sweep. The Wildcats go with the same rotation this weekend. Senior southpaws Aaron Tennyson (4-2, 3.91) and Craig Snipp (5-3, 3.30) get the nod on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Sophomore right-hander Greg Dombrowski (9-1, 2.28), who leads the SEC in both wins and earned-run average, takes the hill for Kentucky on Sunday. He has the opportunity to become just the fourth 10-game winner in school history.
Mississippi State counters with senior lefty Brooks Dunn (8-4, 4.12) on Friday and sophomore lefty Justin Pigott (5-0, 0.94) on Saturday. Sunday?s starter has yet to be determinted. Pigott is the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week after holding Florida to one unearned run on three hits last week.
Records
Kentucky ? 37-11, 16-8 SEC
Mississippi State ? 33-16, 11-12 SEC
Rankings
Kentucky ? No. 7 Collegiate Baseball
Mississippi State ? No. 19 USA Today/ESPN
Schedule (times Eastern)
Lexington, Ky. (Cliff Hagan Stadium ? 3,000)
Friday, May 12 vs. Mississippi State * 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 13 vs. Mississippi State * 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 14 vs. Mississippi State * 1 p.m.
Tickets
Available for $2 at the gate or by calling the UK ticket office at (859) 257-1818.
Radio
Friday: WLAP 630-AM in Lexington
Saturday/Sunday: WXRA 1580-AM in Lexington
Television
Friday/Saturday: UPN in Lexington; FSN in selected markets
Pitching Match-Ups
Friday vs. Mississippi State
LHP Aaron Tennyson, Sr. (4-2, 3.91) vs. LHP Brooks Dunn, Sr. (8-4, 4.12)
Saturday vs. Mississippi State
LHP Craig Snipp, Sr. (5-3, 3.30) vs. LHP Justin Pigott, So. (5-0, 0.94)
Sunday vs. Mississippi State
RHP Greg Dombrowski, So. (9-1, 2.28) vs. TBA
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 (L) Michael Bertram (.338-5-31)
-or- (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.
? 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.
? Sunday starter Greg Dombrowski leads the SEC in wins with nine and ERA at 2.28. His nine wins are the fourth most in school history and most since 1987. It has been 25 years since a UK pitcher led the league in either category.
? Andrew Albers has a win and four saves in his last five appearances. He has allowed one run in that span.
