LEXINGTON, Ky. — The No. 19 Kentucky baseball team takes a break from its grueling Southeastern Conference slate as it travels to Louisville to face off with in-state rival Louisville. First pitch Wednesday is set for 6 p.m. EDT at Patterson Stadium.
Kentucky (25-6-1, 5-6-1 SEC) enters the contest undefeated in non-conference action, winning its last 36 regular season non-conference games, dating back to the 2006 SEC Championship season. The Wildcats have not lost a mid-week contest since dropping a 7-6 decision to Western Kentucky in March of 2006. Kentucky?s current mid-week win streak stands at 18 games.
The Wildcats have opened its season in dominating fashion, winning a school record 19 consecutive games before dropping its SEC opener to No. 5 Arkansas. Kentucky leads the SEC in 10 offensive categories, including batting average (.345), slugging (.530), on-base percentage (.469), runs scored (322), RBI (291), doubles (84), triples (18), walks (209), hit by pitches (67), and sacrifice bunts (41). Senior catcher Sean Coughlin, a preseason All-America selection leads the league in RBI, driving in 49. Fellow senior Mike Brown ranks second in the SEC in batting average, reaching at a .431 clip.
Last season, Kentucky swept the Cardinals in the home-and-home two-game set, defeating UL 5-4 and 3-1. In the first game held at Cliff Hagan Stadium, Kentucky got strong pitching from starter Chris Rusin and a cadre of four Wildcat relievers. UK broke open a tie game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth from centerfielder and leadoff man, Antone DeJesus. In the second game at Louisville, Kentucky managed seven hits and just three runs, leaving 10 runners on base. UK got an excellent pitching performance from Matt Robinson, who worked five innings against the Cardinals, allowing only one hit and no runs.
Louisville (21-10, 6-3 Big East) is off to an excellent start to the new head coach Dan McDonnell era. The Cardinals are just one game out of first place in the Big East, and coming off a series loss to the Pitt Panthers at Patterson Stadium. UL senior outfielder Boomer Whiting is currently leading the NCAA in stolen bases, swiping 39 in the first 31 opening games.
Kentucky leads the all-time series between the two schools, 60-29-1, holding a 21-13-1 advantage in games played at Louisville.
The Louisville Ticket Office announced on Tuesday that the 1,500 grandstand seating area has been reserved for the contest. Standing room only tickets are still available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission to Patterson Stadium is free and fans are encouraged to park near gate four of Papa John?s Cardinal Stadium and utilize the free shuttle service, which will run from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. and resume following the game.
Fans can catch the action live on WLAP 630-AM with the voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price, on the call.
TEAM RECORDS
No. 19 Kentucky (25-6-1, 5-6-1 SEC) vs. Louisville (21-10, 6-3 Big East)
DATES/TIMES
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 * 6 p.m. EDT
STADIUM
Jim Patterson Stadium (2,500)
KENTUCKY IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
No. 19 by Collegiate Baseball No. 22 by USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll No. 22 by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
RADIO (BIG BLUE SPORTS NETWORK WITH NEIL PRICE)
WLAP 630-AM
TICKETS
Free Admission
SERIES RECORD
Kentucky leads series, 60-29-1, holding a 21-13-1 advantage in games played in Louisville ? UK has won four consecutive over UL ? Last season, UK swept the Cardinals in the two-game home and home series.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
UK: TBA UL: TBA
