March 23, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky baseball team will open a five-game week with a pair of non-conference matchups, traveling to face Western Kentucky on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET at Bowling Green Ballpark, before returning home on Wednesday to host Morehead State in a rescheduled game, with first pitch slated for 4 p.m. at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (15-8) will open the week with a 7 p.m. ET matchup at Western Kentucky in Bowling Green Ballpark. It will serve as the first tune-up for the Wildcats in a grueling five-game week, with UK then set to host Morehead State on Wednesday at 4 p.m. UK will then embark on a three-game series at No. 1 LSU, starting on Friday at 8 p.m. ET at Alex Box Stadium.
The non-conference midweek tilts will be broadcast live on the UK Radio Network, with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price, calling the action. Fans in Central Kentucky can hear the game on Tuesday on WLAP 630-AM and on Wednesday live on Fox Sports Radio 1580-AM, in addition to online coverage at UKathletics.com.
UK will be opposed on Tuesday by Western Kentucky starting pitcher Logan Weins (1-0, 2.70 ERA). Weins, a freshman lefty out of Indiana, has appeared in three games with two starts, working 10 innings, allowing 13 hits and three runs, walking three and striking out four.
Last week, the Wildcats posted their first series win over a ranked foe in 2015, setting a program record by winning five consecutive games over Mississippi State, eclipsing the previous record of four straight from the 1987-88 teams. UK rode a 10-2 win in the series opener, getting 7.1 innings from starter Zack Brown, who allowed just one earned run, a solo shot from Wes Rea. In the middle game, Kyle Barrett – who was named SEC Player of the Week – went 4-for-5 and Ka’ai Tom belted his second homer of the year, leading UK to a 9-7 win, with Spencer Jack earning his third save of the year with the final out after a four-run MSU ninth. In the finale, MSU plated 11 runs in the middle innings to post a 12-5 win, with Barrett collecting three hits.
UK has hit .302 as a team in 2015, with 140 runs scored in 23 games, belting nine homers, with a .398 slugging and a .390 on-base percentage, stealing 30 bases. Defensively, UK has fielded .966 with 24 double plays and five runners caught stealing. On the mound, UK has a 4.07 team ERA in 207.2 innings, allowing 186 hits and 77 walks, striking out 181.
Individually, Barrett has paced the UK lineup with a .396 average, owning five doubles, one homer and 13 RBI, stealing six bases. Tom has a .393 average with seven doubles, one triple, two homers and a team-high 24 RBI, stealing six bags. Catcher Zach Arnold has hit .348 with five doubles, with second baseman JaVon Shelby hitting .305 with four doubles, one triple, two homers and 18 RBI, stealing four bases. First baseman Evan White has a .304 average with three doubles, one homer and 13 RBI, with Riley Mahan batting .290 with four doubles, one triple and seven RBI. Third baseman Thomas Bernal has a .275 average with five doubles and 17 RBI. Shortstop Connor Heady has hit .259 with a homer and four RBI. Rightfielder Storm Wilson has a .247 average with a pair of doubles and triples, stealing six bases, with catcher Greg Fettes belting two homers and driving in 11 runs.
UK has used the weekend pitching staff of Brown (2-2, 2.48 ERA), Dustin Beggs (3-2, 3.44 ERA) and Kyle Cody (2-2, 4.88 ERA) to open conference play. In the bullpen, Jack (0-0, 6.35 ERA), freshman lefty Zach Logue (1-0, 3.63 ERA) and senior righty Andrew Nelson (2-0, 3.60 ERA) have each appeared in nine games, with Nelson owning a save and Jack three saves. Lefty Logan Salow (1-1, 5.91 ERA) has a save in eight games, with Dylan Dwyer (2-0, 2.61 ERA), Brad Schaenzer (0-0, 2.12 ERA), Robert Zeigler (1-1, 9.00 ERA), Bo Wilson (0-0, 2.45 ERA), Zach Pop (0-0, 9.00 ERA) and Taylor Martin (0-0, 3.60 ERA) each appearing in at least four games.
Western Kentucky (12-10) has hit .276 as a team in 2015, with 18 homers, a .412 slugging and a .343 on-base percentage, stealing 21 bases. WKU has a 4.95 ERA as a team in 2015, working 192.2 innings, allowing 216 hits and 08 walks, striking out 143. Defensively, WKU has a .963 fielding percentage, turning 16 double plays and throwing out 12 runners in 28 attempts.
Records
Kentucky: 15-8
Western Kentucky: 12-10
Schedule (times Eastern and subject to change)
Tuesday, March 24 * at Western Kentucky * 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25 * vs. Morehead State * 4 p.m.
Radio (UK Radio Network)
Tuesday: WLAP 630-AM in Lexington
Wednesday: Fox Sports 1580-AM in Lexington
Internet Coverage
Live audio and stats on UKathletics.com
Tentative Pitching Matchups
Tuesday at Western Kentucky
TBA vs. Fr., LHP Logan Weins (1-0, 2.70 ERA)
Wednesday vs. Morehead State
TBD vs. TBD
