| WKU Baseball at Kentucky | |
| Date | Time | Tuesday, March 15 | 3 p.m. CT |
| Location | Lexington, Ky. | Cliff Hagan Stadium |
| Tickets | UK Ticket Office | (800) 928-2287 |
| Listen Live | WKUSports.tv | 1450 AM, 102.7 FM in BG |
| TV/Live Stream | SEC Network+ | ESPN3 |
| Live Stats | UKathletics.com |
| Game Notes | WKU Game Notes |
| Starting Pitchers | RHP Cody Coll (WKU) vs. RHP Zach Pop (UK) |
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Starting the first of four games away from home, WKU (10-5) will face in-state rival Kentucky (12-3) on Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT from Cliff Hagan Stadium, with the Hilltoppers looking to continue their recent string of good results against the Wildcats.
In the last 10 games of the rivalry, WKU has picked up wins in eight of those contests, while the Hilltoppers also own a 20-11 record against UK since 1996. Tuesday's fixture will be shown live on SEC Network+ and ESPN3. Fans can also listen to the game on 102.7 FM and 1450 AM in Bowling Green and online at WKUSports.tv.
Right-handed pitcher Cody Coll will get the ball for the Tops, which will be his fourth start on the mound this season. Coll currently has a 3.00 ERA and has not drawn a decision. Kentucky will also utilize a righty on the mound in Zach Pop, who has a 1-0 record to go along with a 1.08 ERA.
WKU has been impressive in midweek action over the last couple years, winning 11 of its last 13 games that were played in the middle of the week, including a pair of triumphs over the Wildcats in 2015. So far this season, the Hilltoppers have won all three midweek contests and have outscored their opponents 22-4 in those games.
Hot hitting has been the key to the success for WKU in John Pawlowski's debut season as his squad has out-hit its opponent in 10 games and racked up double-digit hits in nine contests. The Hilltoppers will enter the midweek tilt at Kentucky ranked second in Conference USA in runs scored (108), third in hits (169) and on-base percentage (.405) and fourth in team batting average (.310).
In the series win against Albany, senior third baseman Danny Hudzina extended his hitting streak to a career-long 20 games, becoming the first player to register a hitting streak of at least 20 games since Matt Rice set the school record with a hit in 31 straight contests in 2009. Hudzina is currently tied for second for most hits in the NCAA with 30 and holds the best batting average in C-USA at .469, which is tied for eighth in the nation.
Kentucky has won nine in a row coming into the game, with wins over Cincinnati, Murray State and USC Upstate last week. Preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection Evan White has lived up to his praise before the season, leading the Wildcats in batting average (.397), runs (14), hits (25) and RBI (20). Gary Henderson's team was tipped to finish fourth in the SEC East.
Following the midweek fixture, WKU will begin its conference schedule at Old Dominion for a weekend series starting on Friday, March 18, in Norfolk, Virginia.
