GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 27 Kentucky baseball team looks to return to its winning ways as it travels to the Sunshine State for a three-game Southeastern Conference series with the Florida Gators. First pitch at McKethan Stadium on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Kentucky (26-10-1, 6-8-1 SEC) looks for its second consecutive SEC series win over the Gators, after taking the 2006 three-game set, 2-1. Florida (21-19, 8-7 SEC) is coming off an upset win over No. 1 Florida State on Wednesday, 5-4.
The Wildcats have been paced by a potent lineup, beginning with Mike Brown and Sean Coughlin. Coughlin leads the club and the SEC in RBI, cranking out 52. Brown leads the team in batting average, reaching at a .394 clip.
On the mound for UK on Friday will be sophomore southpaw Chris Rusin. Rusin has accumulated a 3-2 record and a 4.94 ERA in 51 innings of action. Rusin has struck out a club-best 51 batters and opponents are only hitting for a .250 batting average. Facing off with Rusin on Friday will be freshman Tony Davis. Davis has appeared in six games on the season, tossing 16 innings. On Saturday, Kentucky will send Andrew Albers to the hill to face UF righty Bryan Augenstein. Albers has racked up a 5-1 record and a 3.70 ERA, while Augenstein has posted a 3-4 mark and a 5.93 ERA. Sunday, UK runs out preseason All-American right hander Greg Dombrowski to the mound to square off with Billy Bullock (2-4, 4.87 ERA).
On Wednesday, Kentucky took a hard loss to state rival Morehead State, 9-6. The Eagles plated seven runs in two middle innings to take control of the contest and hand UK just its second non-conference regular season loss in 38 games. Last weekend, Kentucky took one of three from No. 1 Vanderbilt, falling in a 12-inning marathon on Friday night before splitting a modified twin bill with the Commodores on getaway day.
Fans in Lexington can catch the action live on WLAP 630-AM, with the Voice of UK baseball, Neil Price on the call. First pitch on Saturday is slated for 4 p.m. EDT and Sunday?s game will begin at 11 a.m. EDT.
Team Records
No. 27 Kentucky (26-10-1, 6-8-1 SEC) vs. Florida (21-19, 8-7 SEC)
Date/Time
Friday, April 20 * 6:30 p.m. EDT
Saturday, April 21 * 4 p.m. EDT
Sunday, April 22 * 11 a.m. EDT
Stadium
McKethan Stadium (5,000)
Kentucky in the National Rankings
No. 27 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
Radio (Big Blue Sports Network with Neil Price)
Friday-Sunday: WLAP 630-AM
Series Record
Kentucky trails the all-time series between the two schools, 121-49-1 ? Last season, UK took 2-of-3 games from the then No. 19 Florida.
Pitching Matchups
Friday
UK: Chris Rusin, LHP, So. (3-2, 4.94 ERA, 51 IP, 49 H, 32 R, 28 ER, 22 BB, 51 SO)
UF: Tony Davis, LHP, Fr. (2-1, 5.62 ERA, 16 IP, 14 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 9 BB, 9 SO)
Saturday
UK: Andrew Albers, LHP, Jr. (5-1, 3.70 ERA, 48.2 IP, 57 H, 24 R, 20 ER, 11 BB, 37 SO)
UF: Bryan Augenstein, RHP, Jr. (3-4, 5.93 ERA, 68.1 IP, 80 H, 54 R, 45 ER, 21 BB, 65 SO)
Sunday
UK: Greg Dombrowski, RHP, Jr. (4-1, 4.35 ERA, 49.2 IP, 65 H, 29 ER, 24 ER, 5 BB, 36 SO)
UF: Billy Bullock, RHP, Fr. (2-4, 4.87 ERA, 44.1 IP, 53 H, 26 R, 24 ER, 14 BB, 27 SO)
