ATHENS, Ga. — Riding a three-game winning streak – including back-to-back series-clinching wins over Mississippi State and an epic 12-inning victory over in-state rival Louisville ? the No. 9 Kentucky baseball team hits to the road for its third Southeastern Conference road series of the year, a three-game tilt the first-place team in the SEC, No. 11 Georgia. First pitch on Friday at Foley Field is slated for 6:30 p.m.
Kentucky (26-5, 7-5 SEC) sits two games back in the SEC from the Bulldogs entering the series. The Wildcats are fresh off a non-conference matchup with state rival Louisville, outlasting the Cardinals 7-6 in 12 innings. Sophomore left-fielder Keenan Wiley got his first career home run, in his 215th career at bat, a walk-off job in the bottom of the 12th inning.
Last weekend, UK notched its second SEC series win, edging the streaking Mississippi State Bulldogs in the three-game set, with a 9-8 rubber match win on Sunday.
The last time UK ventured to Athens was in 2006, the site where the historic Wildcat club captured the first SEC Championship in program history. UK lost the series, despite notching the league-clinching win on Saturday. A year ago, UK won the series vs. the Bulldogs in Lexington. Kentucky trails the all-time series with Georgia, 83-116-1.
The Wildcats will send its regular weekend rotation to the mound, starting junior southpaw Chris Rusin (4-1, 2.59 ERA) to the bump on Friday to face off with Georgia junior right-handed ace Trevor Holder (3-2, 1.98 ERA). Saturday, UK preseason first-team All-SEC selection Scott Green (3-1, 4.66 ERA) will get the nod, squaring off with Georgia right-hander Stephen Dodson (4-1, 4.20 ERA). Sunday, UK?s record holder for all-time winning percentage, Greg Dombrowski (4-0, 3.00 ERA) takes the hill to face off with junior Bulldog southpaw Nathan Moreau (1-1, 3.60 ERA).
The Wildcats have been led at the plate by the reigning National Player of the Week, centerfielder Collin Cowgill. Cowgill leads the club with 12 home runs, hitting for a .402 average, with 10 doubles, two triples. 39 RBI, 26 walks and 14 steals. Fellow outfielder, senior Sawyer Carroll ? who earlier this season was named the National Player of the Week ? leads the team with a .447 average, ripping a club-high 12 doubles, one triple, eight homers and a team-leading 43 RBI.
Fans can catch the action live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio) with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price calling the action. The game can be heard all weekend in Lexington on WLAP 630-AM and in Louisville on WKJK 1080-AM. Saturday?s game will function as the FSN SEC Game of the Week, with Larry Conley and Dave Neal calling the action from Foley Field.
