No. 28 Baseball to Host Eastern Kentucky Tuesday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After the original game was postponed on April 12, the No. 28 Kentucky baseball team will faceoff with in-state opponent Eastern Kentucky in a rescheduled game Tuesday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.   

The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network + and on the UK Sports Radio Network. Fans in Central Kentucky can hear the games live on WLAP 630-AM, in Louisville on WKJK 1080-AM and online at UKathletics.com. Neil Price’s call of the game will be carried on both radio and SEC Network +.

Kentucky (27-17, 11-10 SEC) and Eastern Kentucky (20-25, 10-11 OVC) will meet for the 93rd time on Tuesday evening. UK holds the lead in the series with a 66-25-1 mark against EKU. The last time the two sides faced off was February 27, 2013, in which UK earned a 6-2 win at Cliff Hagan Stadium. 

Last time that UK took the field, senior righthander Kyle Cody pitched seven and one-third innings, giving up just two earned runs on seven hits, and JaVon Shelby belted a pair of home runs as Kentucky topped Auburn, 9-6, on Sunday at Plainsman Park. Cody (5-2) struck out six and walked three in the game, helping Kentucky salvage the third game of the series after the Cats lost to the Tigers on Friday and Saturday.

Shelby hit two homers in the same game for the third time this season. He pulled the trick against Dayton on February 21 and against Georgia on March 20. 

UK head coach Gary Henderson will likely turn to sophomore lefty Zach Logue (2-1, 3.10 ERA) for the start on Tuesday. Logue has worked 29 innings this season, allowing 30 hits and 13 runs while striking out 23 batters. The Mason, Ohio, native put together his most complete performance of the season in his last start last week against Miami (Ohio). Logue threw five innings, giving up just one run and four hits while striking out a career-high seven batters. EKU will counter with junior lefthander Nick Cumpston, who is 2-4 on the season with a 5.62 ERA.

The Wildcats were able to get the bats going again in the weekend series with Auburn, combining for 17 runs scored over the weekend’s three-game series. Kentucky’s offense is paced by sophomore first baseman Evan White, whose .362 batting average and 38 runs scored lead the team. Junior outfielder Zach Reks is close behind, batting .336 on the year and a team-best .424 on base percentage. Designated hitter Gunnar McNeill leads UK with 35 RBI. 

White enters the game with a streak of four consecutive multi-hit games.  Last week he batted .524 with eight runs scored and five RBI. Shelby is also coming off a fine performance last week. The Lexington, Ky., product batted .368, going 7-for-19. Shelby made the most of his time at bat, hitting three doubles and three home runs for eight RBI. He scored eight runs as well. 

EKU (20-25, 9-11 OVC) enters Tuesday on a three-game win streak after sweeping conference opponent Eastern Illinois over the weekend. Mandy Alvarez spearheads the Colonel’s offense with a .394 batting average, 39 runs and 48 RBI – all team highs. Kyle Nowlin also plays a key role, with 16 homers, 47 RBI and 38 runs on the year. 

For more information on the Kentucky baseball team, follow @UKBaseball on Twitter and Facebook or visit UKathletics.com.

Records

Kentucky – 27-17, 11-10 SEC

Eastern Kentucky – 20-25, 10-11 OVC

Schedule (times Eastern and subject to change)

Tuesday, May 3 – Cliff Hagan Stadium – 6:30 p.m. [SEC Network +]

Internet Coverage

Live audio and stats on UKathletics.com

UK Radio Network 

WLAP 630-AM [Neil Price]

Tentative Pitching Matchups

Tuesday vs. Eastern Kentucky

So., LHP Zach Logue (2-1, 3.10 ERA) vs. Jr., LHP Nick Cumpston (2-4, 5.62 ERA)

Stadium

Cliff Hagan Stadium (3,000)

Parking

Free game day parking is available in the C-8 lot beyond right field and behind home plate, or in the E lot adjacent to Cliff Hagan Stadium. The C-8 lot will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Once C-8 is filled, vehicles will be directed to park in the E lot next to Cliff Hagan Stadium. After the E lot is full, a limited amount of parking will be available in Parking Structure No. 7 on the ground floor. If you’re parking in PS#7, please exchange your ticket for a pink payment voucher at the ticket booth, prior to the end of the fourth inning. Additionally, overflow parking will be available in the smaller E lots close to Cooper Dr., as well as the C-6 lot at Commonwealth Stadium. All fans are asked to please follow the signage provided to the nearest parking location.

Tickets

SINGLE-GAME TICKET PRICES

$5 – General Admission Seating – Adults

$2 – General Admission Seating – Youths/Seniors