LEXINGTON, Ky. — As one of only two undefeated teams left in the nation and ranked as high as No. 2 nationally, the Kentucky baseball team looks to tie the school record for the best start to a season and the longest winning streak on Tuesday, playing host to the Morehead State Eagles, with a 4 p.m. ET first pitch at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (18-0, 3-0 SEC) suffered a critical non-conference loss to the Eagles a year ago, falling 9-6 in a late-season, mid-week tilt at Cliff Hagan. UK got a four-hit performance from outfielder Keenan Wiley, but Morehead got seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings to hand UK then just its second non-conference loss in 38 games.
The Wildcats are off to a stellar start, compiling an impressive opening season start, as one of only two undefeated teams left in college baseball. No. 1 Arizona State has had an equally impressive start, winnings its first 17 games. A year ago, UK set the school mark for the longest winning streak and the best start to a season, winning its opening 19 non-conference games before falling in the SEC opener vs. eventual Western Division Champion Arkansas.
Ranked as high as No. 2 nationally, Kentucky has put up monstrous offensive and pitching numbers to open the season, leading the SEC in 12-of-17 offensive categories and in 7-of-18 pitching categories.
UK ranks as the league leader in average (.364), slugging (.607), on-base percentage (.472), runs scored (202), hits (222), RBI (182), doubles (56), total bases (370), walks (102), hit-by-pitches (35), sacrifice bunts (23) and sacrifice flies (13). Pitching-wise UK leads the SEC in ERA (2.08), opponent batting average (.218), wins (18), fewest runs allowed (47), fewest earned runs allowed (37), fewest walks allowed (33), and fewest homers allowed (6).
The game will function as UK?s two-for-Tuesday?s promotion, where fans can purchase one general admission ticket and receive another free, by mentioning the promotion at the ticket window.
UK owns a 39-25 all-time advantage in the series, claiming three of the past five meetings. In Lexington, UK leads the series 26-13.
Records
Kentucky ? 18-0, 3-0 SEC
Morehead State ? 6-9, 0-0 Ohio Valley
Rankings
Kentucky ? No. 2 (Collegiate Baseball), No. 17 (NCBWA), No. 16 (Baseball America), No. 11 (USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll)
Morehead State ? not ranked
Schedule (times Eastern and subject to change) ? Lexington, Ky.
Tuesday, March 18 * 4 p.m. ET
Live Radio (BBSN with Neil Price)
WXRA 1580-AM in Lexington
WKJK 1080-AM in Louisville
Live Television (BBSN with Dick Gabriel, Doug Flynn and Ryan Lemond)
Lexington C-WKYT (Insight Channel 5)
FSN South
Live Video
UKathletics.com Extreme Access
$69.95: a one-time fee for a year of Extreme Access
$9.95: three-day pass< br=””>
Tentative Pitching Matchups
Tuesday vs. Morehead State
UK: So., RHP – Clint Tilford (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
MSU: So., RHP – Michael Bottoms (2-0, 0.90 ERA)
Stadium
Cliff Hagan Stadium (3,000)
Parking
Parking at Cliff Hagan Stadium is free.
Parking will be available in the C8 lot behind Shively Sports Center, and brand-new Parking Structure 7 on the corner of Complex Drive and Jerry Claiborne Way.
Fans who park in the PS7 lot will be given a parking value card to exit the structure free of charge. Value cards should be picked up at the baseball ticket booth prior to the fifth inning.
Tickets
SINGLE GAME TICKET PRICES
$5 – General Admission Seating – Adults
$2 – General Admission Seating – Kids/Seniors
SEASON TICKET PRICES
$35 General Admission
Promotions
Two-for-Tuesday: Purchase one general admission ticket and redeem it for another general admission ticket free.
Wildcat Refuge: Weather permitting, arrive early and have some fun on inflatable games.
