| WKU Baseball vs. Marshall | |
| Date | Time | Fri., May 13 -- Sun., May 15 | 6 p.m. CT, 1 p.m., 1 p.m. |
| Location | Bowling Green, Ky. -- Nick Denes Field |
| Tickets | WKU Ticket Office -- 1-800-5 BIG RED |
| Listen Live | WKUSports.tv | 1450 AM, 102.7 FM in BG |
| TV/Live Stream | WKUSports.tv (Game 3 Only) |
| Live Stats | WKUSports.com |
| Game Notes | WKU Game Notes |
| Friday | LHP Ryan Thurston (WKU) vs. RHP Chase Boster (MAR) |
| Saturday | LHP Austin King (WKU) vs. LHP Parker Danciu (MAR) |
| Sunday | RHP Josh Bartley (WKU) vs. RHP JD Hammer (MAR) |
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- In the final home series of the year, WKU (24-24, 10-14 C-USA) welcomes Marshall (27-17, 16-8 C-USA) for its first of two remaining Conference USA series in 2016, starting with Game 1 one Friday night at 6 p.m. CT.
Both contests on Saturday and Sunday are slated to begin at 1 p.m. CT, with the series finale to be streamed live on WKUSports.tv as part of the broadcasting package. Fans can also listen to every game this season locally in Bowling Green on 1450 AM and 102.7 FM or online at WKUSports.tv.
The series opener will have multiple promotions, including HAF Day at The Nick. Each Hilltopper Athletic Foundation donor will receive two free tickets to the game to go along with free burgers, hotdogs and drinks. WKU will also be partnering with Stockdale's to collect items for the Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society as part of Bark in the Park night, with fans receiving on complimentary ticket for each item brought that is on the human society's wish list. Dog owners are encouraged to bring their canine to the game.
On Sunday, WKU will host Senior Day as the Hilltoppers' five senior student-athletes in Josh Bartley, Ty Downing, John Harman, Danny Hudzina and Austin King play their final game at Nick Denes Field. The group of five has contributed to more than 125 victories during its time at WKU, while each player will also leave The Hill with a degree.
The Tops come into the pivotal C-USA series in a tie for seventh in the conference standings with UAB, with FIU and Charlotte both a game back. The four schools are playing for the remaining two spots for the C-USA Baseball Championships on May 25-29 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, that involves the Top 8 teams in the league. The Thundering Herd clinched their spot last weekend and are two games back from first in sole possession of fourth.
In previous 15 meetings between the two schools, WKU has claimed nine victories, which includes a 7-4 record in games played in Bowling Green. Last year's series was the first between the two programs since 1999, which was also the last time Marshall played at Nick Denes Field. The Thundering Herd took two of three in the series last season.
Left-handed pitcher Ryan Thurston will draw the start in the series opener for the Hilltoppers, coming in with a 4.00 ERA and 3-4 record. Thurston has been one of the league's best in conference play this season, ranking sixth in strikeouts (42) in C-USA games and 11th in ERA (3.88) and opposing batting average (.258). The Herd will start RHP Chase Boster (5-2, 3.89 ERA).
Head coach John Pawlowski will look to one of his seniors on the mound in Game 2, giving the ball to left-handed pitcher Austin King (3-4, 4.90 ERA). King has been impressive at The Nick this season, owning a 3.34 ERA in six starts and guiding WKU to a 5-1 record in those fixtures. Toeing the rubber for Marshall will be LHP Parker Danciu (3-3, 5.99 ERA).
Another senior making his final start at Nick Denes Field will be the veteran right-hander Josh Bartley (4-4, 5.03 ERA). The hometown hurler has been a mainstay on the mound for the Hilltoppers in his four seasons, combining for 214.2 innings pitched and 17 wins in 65 career appearances (35 starts) at WKU. He will be facing RHP JD Hammer of Marshall in Sunday's game, who sports a 3-2 record and 4.88 ERA.
Marshall will come into the series as the hottest team in Conference USA, winning its last six games in sweeps over Middle Tennessee and UAB. In conference action, the Herd are ranked second in team batting average (.304), slugging percentage (.469) and home runs (25) and third in runs scored (161), on-base percentage (.390) and hits 254).
