Kentucky Hosts No. 4 Georgia in Featured SEC Series
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky will host No. 4 Georgia this week in the Southeastern Conference’s featured series that opens Thursday night at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network. The Eastern Division rivals also will play at 6:30 p.m. Friday evening and 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park.
Game Notes
The Wildcats are coming off their third shutout win of the season on Tuesday night, blanking a dangerous Morehead State offensive club 7-0 behind the pitching of sophomore left-hander Mason Hazelwood and an opportunistic offense. The Cats are 12-4 at home in the inaugural season of Kentucky Proud Park and will have a national television audience to showcase the sparkling new ballpark to on Thursday night.
With the shorter turnaround from the traditional Friday-Sunday weekend series UK will sent sophomore right-hander Jimmy Ramsey to the mound in the opener followed by junior lefty Zack Thompson in his normal Friday night slot. The starter for the series finale is currently listed as TBA. Georgia will counter with its outstanding rotation of righty Emerson Hancock (Thursday), southpaw C.J. Smith (Friday) and right-hander Tony Locey (Saturday).
The Bulldogs have been one of the hottest teams in the nation to start the season, ripping off 21 wins in their first 25 games, including five of six against South Carolina and LSU to begin league play. The veteran-laden club was one game away from the NCAA Super Regionals last season.
The weekend will be full of promotions for fans, as well as dedicated to the fight against pediatric cancer. Dance Blue, which has raised more than $13 million for the cause, and NEGU.org will be prominently featured throughout the series. UK junior DH/1B T.J. Collett has worked with NEGU for several years and is one of the most involved collegiate players in the country with the organization.
Also, on Saturday the program will honor the family of the late Jonathan Hooker, who played at UK from 1997-2001. Hooker and his newlywed bride, Scarlett Parsley, were killed in the crash of Comair Flight 5191 in June 2007 as it took off from Lexington’s airport. The visiting bullpen at Kentucky Proud Park has been named ‘The Hook’ in honor of the former right-handed pitcher.
On Thursday, kids can run the bases after the game and there will be a raffle for a new television. On Friday, kids can play catch in the outfield after the game and on Saturday the second of five sets of trading cards will be given away and the team will be available for autographs after the contest.
Tickets for home games can be purchased at UKBaseballTix.com and complete game-day information can be found at UKathletics.com/gameday. Fans are also encouraged to share their experiences and ask questions by emailing BBNfirst@uky.edu.
Parking and Tailgating
Parking in all areas surrounding Kentucky Proud Park is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fans are encouraged to arrive as early as possible. The following areas will be open for parking:
- College Way lot immediately adjacent to Kentucky Proud Park
- Purple Lots by soccer/softball
- Kroger Field Blue Lot
- Kroger Field Green Lot
- Lot between the Arboretum and Commonwealth Drive
Shuttles will operate beginning two hours prior to first pitch and will run until one hour postgame. Shuttles will pick up at the Blue and Green lots and drop at the main gate of Kentucky Proud Park.
Parking lots will open four hours prior to first pitch and all tailgates must be in the back of vehicles. Tailgates can be coordinated through Tailgate Guys, a turnkey tailgate service.
Parking and shuttle map
Complete tailgating information
SERIES DETAILS
Thursday, March 28 vs. #4 Georgia
7 p.m. ET; Kentucky Proud Park (Lexington, Ky.)
TV: SEC Network; Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM in Lexington)
UK – Jimmy Ramsey (RHP, 2-1, 7.84 ERA); UGA – Emerson Hancock (RHP, 5-1, 0.69)
Friday, March 29 vs. #4 Georgia
6:30 p.m. ET; Kentucky Proud Park (Lexington, Ky.)
TV: SECN+; Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM in Lexington)
UK – Zack Thompson (LHP, 1-0, 2.60); UGA – C.J. Smith (LHP, 2-0, 2.05)
Saturday, March 30 vs. #4 Georgia
2 p.m. ET; Kentucky Proud Park (Lexington, Ky.)
TV: SECN+; Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM in Lexington)
UK – TBA; UGA – Tony Locey (RHP, 4-0, 2.10)
