LEXINGTON, Ky. — The No. 21 Kentucky baseball team looks to keep up its winning ways, as it plays host to the Wisconsin Milwaukee Panthers in a three-game set, beginning Friday at 4 p.m. EST.
Kentucky (9-0) is off to the second best start in the 103-year history of the Kentucky baseball program. In 2000, Keith Madison?s club rang up 15 straight wins to open the season before finishing the campaign 38-20-1.
The Wildcats will run what has become a quite effective weekend rotation to the hill this weekend, starting with Friday starter Andrew Albers. Albers, a junior southpaw has accumulated a 1.50 ERA in 10 innings of work. Starting Saturday will be lefty Chris Rusin and getting the nod on Sunday is preseason All-American Greg Dombrowski.
The Panthers (0-3) fell in a season-opening sweep to the No. 5 team in the nation, Arkansas. The Razorbacks pummeled Wisconsin Milwaukee to the tune of 44 runs, including hanging up a 28-2 win in the Saturday contest. Wisconsin Milwaukee will throw senior southpaw Robert Michalkiewicz on Friday and junior lefty Dan Luczak on Saturday. Getting the nod on Sunday for the Panthers will be senior right-hander Mike Rauwerdink.
Offensively, Kentucky has been paced by a gamut of fresh faces, including first baseman Sawyer Carroll. Carroll, a native of Henryetta, Okla., leads the team in several categories, including batting average (.419), doubles (7), RBI (13), and walks (8).
Brian Spear and Jason Kipnis are two more fresh faced starters who are making an immediate impact. Spear, who hit his first home run as a Wildcat in Wednesday?s win over Xavier, has been a fixture in the infield early in the season for John Cohen?s club. The Gary, Ind. native is batting .375 with seven RBI and seven doubles. Kipnis, who has already earned Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week honors, has blasted three home runs and stolen four bases.
In Wednesday?s 6-2 win over Xavier, the Kentucky bullpen retired 20 consecutive Musketeer batters before allowing a two-out, two-strike, ninth-inning base hit. Tommy Warner (1-0) picked up the win for UK, and five Wildcat relievers combined to handcuff Xavier through the final seven innings.
Fans in Lexington can catch the action in Lexington live on WXRA 1580-AM or online via the official website of University of Kentucky Athletics, UKathletics.com. For ticket information, please contact the UK Ticket Office (859.257.1818).
