No. 10 Kentucky Heads Back on the Road With Trip to Missouri

LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 10 Kentucky continues its road warrior mentality, traveling to Missouri this weekend to face the resurgent Tigers in an important league showdown. The Cats enter the three-game series a game up in the SEC East standings and tied with Arkansas, Auburn and Mississippi State in the overall conference standings. It is the first time the Cats have been in first place through 12 games since 2012.

The Cats (22-11, 8-4 SEC) face a Missouri team that was one of the nation’s hottest teams to start the season. The Tigers (25-9, 6-6) lost their opener but then ran off 20 consecutive victories to vault into the national rankings. Included in that streak was an SEC-opening sweep of Alabama.

UK returned to Cliff Hagan Stadium on Wednesday, shutting out UT Martin 8-0 on the heels of a stretch where it played 13 of 15 games against ranked opponents. The series against Missouri will cap a two-week portion of the schedule that saw the Cats play seven of eight games on the road.

 

Sophomore OF Tristan Pompey is on a blistering streak, having posted a hit in 21 of his last 23 games and hitting .727 (8-of-11) last weekend at Mississippi State. Zach Reks and Evan White each homered against UT Martin and continue to lead a lineup that gives opposing pitchers little breathing room. It will be an interesting matchup with a Tigers staff that features big time prospect Tanner Houck and a staff with an ERA under 3.00 in conference play.

UK – Sean Hjelle (So., RHP): 8 starts, 4-2, 4.53 ERA

MISSOURI – Tanner Houck (Jr., RHP): 8 starts, 3-4, 3.04 ERA

UK – Zach Logue (Jr., LHP): 8 starts, 5-2, 3.22 ERA

MISSOURI – Michael Plassmeyer (So., LHP) 8 starts, 4-1, 3.38 ERA

UK – Justin Lewis (So., RHP): 8 starts, 4-2 3.28 ERA

MISSOURI – Bryce Montes De Oca (Jr., RHP) 6 starts, 3-1, 2.67 ERA

Date/Time: Fri., April 14 (7:30 p.m.); Sat., April 15 (8 p.m.); Sun., April 16 (1 p.m.)

Location (Facility): Columbia, Mo. (Taylor Stadium)

Series History: Kentucky leads 7-6

Radio: Friday – 98.5 FM Lexington; Saturday/Sunday – 630 AM-WLAP Lexington (Neil Price); ukathletics.com

TV/Online: Friday – SECN+; Saturday/Sunday – SEC Network