No. 8 Kentucky Looks to Rebound From Tough Weekend Series

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky enters the final two weeks of the regular season with a challenging midweek showdown with border rival Indiana, which is coming off a weekend sweep of a Xavier club that played the Wildcats tough just two weeks ago. 

After a tough weekend against Georgia during which that Cats were stunned by a pair of late-inning rallies, the Cats enter the week ranked No. 9 in the NCAA’s RPI ratings as jockeying for postseason position and potential hosting of NCAA Tournament Regional and Super Regional rounds reaches full tilt.

A win over Indiana would certainly help, as the Hoosiers have risen to No. 21 in the RPI this week. The Hoosiers (27-17-2) have won eight of their past 10 games, including series against quality clubs Michigan and Maryland, as well as their sweep of Xavier. Indiana has a deep lineup with power (55 team home runs) and will send Brian Hobbie to the mound, who has started 11 games this season.

With final exams now complete, UK enters the week a game behind Florida and Mississippi State in the SEC championship race after the Gators swept Ole Miss in Gainesville and the Bulldogs took two of three at Texas A&M. The Cats welcome Tennessee to Lexington on Friday for a three-game set with both teams needing wins – UK for the title chase and the Volunteers in pursuit of an SEC Tournament bid.

Kentucky owns a 21-5 record at Cliff Hagan Stadium this season.

Kentucky junior pitcher Zach Logue has been named Academic All-District First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Logue is a chemical engineering major and maintains a 3.96 grade point average.

The Mason, Ohio native was voted to the District 2 team by sports information directors from around the country and will now have an opportunity to be voted to the Academic All-America team. 

The left-hander has been Kentucky’s Saturday starter all season, posting a 6-4 record with a 4.41 earned run average in 12 starts. He has pitched 69.1 innings, giving up 72 hits, 34 earned runs, 18 walks and striking out 67 hitters. 

UK – Zack Thompson (Fr., LHP) – 12 games, 10 starts; 5-2, 3.99 ERA, 1 save, 49.2 IP, 36 H, 22 ER, 29 BB, 61 K

INDIANA – Brian Hobbie (Jr., RHP) – 12 games, 11 starts; 2-4, 6.32 ERA, 62.2 IP, 83 H, 44 ER, 12 BB, 34 K

Date/Time: Tuesday, May 9 (7 p.m.)

Location (Facility): Lexington, Ky. (Cliff Hagan Stadium)

Series History: UK leads 19-18 (11-9 in Lexington)

Radio: 630 AM-WLAP (Neil Price); ukathletics.com

TV/Online: SEC Network (Clay Matvick and Jay Walker)