LEXINGTON, Ky. — The 2007 Kentucky baseball season gets underway this weekend with a three-game series with Furman in Greenville, S.C. beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. ET at Furman Stadium.
No. 26 Kentucky is coming off its most successful season in its history, winning the Southeastern Conference Championship and hosting an NCAA Regional. The Wildcats return several position starters from the championship squad, including National Player of the Year candidates Sean Coughlin (Sr., C) and Collin Cowgill (Jr., OF). Antone DeJesus (Jr., OF), Ryan Wilkes (Jr., SS), and Billy Grace (Sr., OF) all return as position starters.
The Wildcats will break in two new weekend starters this season, after losing seniors Aaron Tennyson and Craig Snipp to graduation a year ago. Getting the nod to take the hill for the first game of the season is junior southpaw Andrew Albers. Albers paced the Wildcats out of the bullpen last year, racking up seven saves and a 5.40 ERA.
Starting on Saturday is another lefty, sophomore Chris Rusin. One of the more highly recruited players in UK?s class a year ago, Rusin has yet to taste defeat in the blue and white, going 5-0 in 2006. The Canton, Mich. native posses a dominating curveball and should be a force on the mound after accumulating a 4.03 ERA a year ago.
Getting the start on Sunday is the pitching staff?s ace, junior right-hander Greg Dombrowski. The Rome, N.Y. native led the Wildcat staff in 2006 with 10 wins and a 2.83 ERA, while hurling 101.2 innings as the get-away day starter. Dombrowski was named to the watch list for the Roger Clemens Award, annually given to the best pitcher in college baseball.
Kentucky will face the Paladins on Friday at 3 p.m. ET, Saturday at 1 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Fans can listen live in Lexington via the Big Blue Sports Network (WXRA 1580-AM) with Dick Gabriel. The games can also be heard on UK?s official website, UKathletics.com.
Records
Kentucky ? 0-0, 0-0 SEC
Furman ? 0-0, 0-0 Southern
Rankings
Kentucky ? No. 26 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
Furman ? not ranked
Schedule (times Eastern) – Greenville, S.C. (Furman Stadium ? 2,000)
Friday, Feb. 16 vs. Furman * 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. Furman * 1 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. Furman * noon
Radio
Friday: WXRA 1580-AM in Lexington
Saturday: WXRA 1580-AM in Lexington
Sunday: WXRA 1580-AM in Lexington
Pitching Match-Ups
Friday vs. Furman
LHP Andrew Albers, Jr. vs. RHP Matt Klinker, Sr.
Saturday vs. Furman
LHP Chris Rusin, So. vs. Richard McGrath, Fr.
Sunday vs. Furman
RHP Greg Dombrowski, Jr. vs. Mason Smith, Jr.
Projected UK Line-Up
C (L) Sean Coughlin
-or- (L) Tyler Howe
1B (L) Sawyer Carroll
-or- (R) Matt McKinney
2B (R) Brian Spear
-or- (R) Mike Brown
3B (R) Anthony Ottrando
-or- (R) Matt McKinney
SS (S) Ryan Wilkes
LF (R) Collin Cowgill
CF (L) Antone DeJesus
RF (R) Billy Grace
-or- (L) Jason Kipnis
DH (L) Tyler Howe
-or- (L) Sean Coughlin
Quick Notes
Kentucky is ranked No. 26 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and No. 21 by Rivals.com college baseball.
Kentucky is entering its 103rd season of college baseball, compiling a 1503-1314-14 record.
Kentucky returns seven position starters, including sluggers Sean Coughlin and Collin Cowgill. Coughlin and Cowgill earned preseason All-American honors, along with pitcher Greg Dombrowski.
The Wildcats will rely on a young, talented pitching staff. Of the 16 newcomers brought in for 2007, seven were pitchers.
UK is 53-42-3 all-time in season openers. Kentucky has now won three consecutive season lid lifters for the first time since 1989-1991. UK won five straight season openers from 1987-1991.
