LEXINGTON, Ky. — After posting back-to-back series wins over top-25 foes, the No. 16 Kentucky baseball team returns to Southeastern Conference action, hosting the streaking LSU Tigers in a pivotal three-game set, with first pitch on Friday slated for 6:30 p.m. ET.
Kentucky (34-11, 11-10 SEC) has already matched its win total from 2007, leading the conference with 34 wins and just 11 losses. The Wildcats notched a series win over then No. 24-ranked Florida before hitting the road and claiming a hotly-contested series at No. 10 Vanderbilt last weekend. Currently in a tie for fourth place in the SEC East, UK has nine conference games remaining, six in the friendly confines of Cliff Hagan Stadium, with the Wildcats sporting a 25-2 home record in 2008.
The game can be heard live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio) with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price calling the action. Fans in Lexington can hear the game on WLAP 630-AM and in Louisville on WKJK 1080-AM.
The Wildcats took a break from finals week with one midweek game, posting a come-from-behind 9-6 win over the red-hot Marshall Thundering Herd, a club that entered winners in nine of its past 11 games. UK fell behind 5-0 before clawing back into the game with nine runs over the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings, highlighted by Sawyer Carroll?s three-run double. Carroll snapped a streak of 98 consecutive games started ? every game of his UK career ? because the senior had to take a final in Italian. Minutes after taking the final, Carroll was in the game, pinch hitting and delivering a career-high five RBI.
Kentucky will send junior southpaw Chris Rusin (4-2, 3.19 ERA) to the hill to start on Friday night, facing off with LSU junior lefty Blake Martin (2-3, 4.71 ERA). Saturday, sophomore left-hander James Paxton (3-2, 3.32 ERA) will get the nod to face LSU right-hander Jordan Brown (3-0, 4.30 ERA). On getaway day, UK will send its career record holder for the best winning percentage, senior Greg Dombrowski (5-0, 2.96 ERA) to the mound to face lefty Ryan Verdugo (7-2, 3.26 ERA).
UK leads the league in eight offensive categories, including batting average (.325), slugging (.524), on-base percentage (.422), runs scored (371), RBI (335), hit by pitch (71), sac bunts (56), and sac flies (29). The Wildcats also lead the conference in ERA (3.45), ranking second in the conference in fielding percentage (.976).
Individually, the Wildcats have been led at the plate by two National Player of the Year award candidates, Carroll and centerfielder Collin Cowgill. Carroll ranks as the league leader in average (.431) and RBI (63), cranking out 12 home runs and 15 doubles. Cowgill ranks sixth in the SEC in average (.380), fourth in slugging (.759), fifth in on-base percentage (.507), second in runs scored (62), fifth in RBI (47) and third in home runs (16). Cowgill has drawn the third most walks in the league (36), swiping 17 bases, good for fifth in the conference. Freshman shortstop Chris Wade leads the league in doubles, cranking out 17 two-baggers while hitting for a .329 average, adding 42 RBI and four homers. Senior second baseman Ryan Wilkes, who is quietly becoming one of the more prolific players in the 103-year history of UK baseball, ranks third on the club with a .358 average, ripping eight doubles, six home runs and driving in 21 RBI. Wilkes remains the only everyday second baseman in the SEC to field at a 1.000 clip.
LSU (29-16-1, 9-11-1 SEC) enters the game as one of the hottest teams in the nation, riding a six-game winning streak. The Tigers pulled off an amazing upset over the weekend, sweeping a series vs. then No. 9 ranked South Carolina in Baton Rogue. LSU has wins at No. 18 Ole Miss, three wins at No. 9 S. Carolina, a win at No. 18 Florida, and a win over No. 29 Southern Miss on its resume, with series wins over Arkansas, Alabama and South Carolina.
The Tigers have been led at the plate by several players including sluggers Matt Clark (.316, 7 2B, 16 HR, 35 RBI) and Blake Dean (.331, 8 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 36 RBI). Derek Helenihi (.344, 9 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 9-12 SB), D.J. LeMahieu (.325, 6 2B, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 9-9 SB) and Micah Gibbs (.323, 7 2B, HR, 20 RBI) have paced a Tiger offense that is hitting for a .294 average.
On the mound for LSU, Jared Bradford (7-4, 4.42 ERA) and Ryan Verdugo (7-2, 3.26 ERA) have led the way in terms of wins, as the Tiger staff has tallied a stellar 3.89 team ERA.
Last year, UK traveled to LSU and emerged from the series 2-0-1, notching wins in the first two games before the SEC travel rule forced a 9-9 tie on getaway day. UK pounded LSU 16-2 in the series opener, getting a dramatic 6-5 win on Saturday before using a late rally to salvage the Sunday game as a tie.
UK trails the all-time series with LSU, 19-34-1, including a 10-13 mark in Lexington. The Wildcats have claimed the past two series, including a 2006 series win at Cliff Hagan Stadium, the series opener. The Wildcats have just lost one game vs. LSU in the past six meetings.
Records
Kentucky ? 34-11, 11-10 SEC
LSU ? 29-16-1, 9-11-1 SEC
Rankings
Kentucky ? No. 16 (NCBWA), No. 19 (Collegiate Baseball), No. 18 (Baseball America), No. 19 (USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll)
LSU ? not ranked
Schedule (times Eastern and subject to change) ? Lexington, Ky.
Friday, May 2 * 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 3 * 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 4 * 1 p.m.
Radio (BBSN with Neil Price)
Friday, May 2 * 6:30 p.m.
Lexington: WLAP 630-AM
Louisville: WKJK 1080-AM
Saturday, May 3 * 1 p.m.
Lexington: WLAP 630-AM
Louisville: WKJK 1080-AM
Sunday, May 4 * 1 p.m.
Lexington: WLAP 630-AM
Louisville: WKJK 1080-AM
Tentative Pitching Matchups
Friday vs. LSU
LHP Chris Rusin (Jr., 4-2, 3.19 ERA) vs. LHP Blake Martin (Jr., 2-3, 4.71 ERA)
Saturday vs. LSU
LHP James Paxton (So., 3-2, 3.32 ERA) vs. RHP Jordan Brown (Jr., 3-0, 4.30 ERA)
Sunday vs. LSU
RHP Greg Dombrowski (Sr., 5-0, 2.96 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Verdugo (7-2, 3.26 ERA)
Stadium
Cliff Hagan Stadium (3,000)
Parking
Parking at Cliff Hagan Stadium is free.
We will utilize three lots: the C8 lot behind Shively Sports Center, the R-Lot down the first-base line and adjacent to the stadium, and brand-new Parking Structure 7 on the corner of Complex Drive and Jerry Claiborne Way. The parking lots are only steps away from Cliff Hagan Stadium.
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 5th inning.
Tickets
SINGLE GAME TICKET PRICES
$5 – General Admission Seating ? Adults
$2 – General Admission Seating – Kids/Seniors
SEASON TICKET PRICES
$35 General Admission
