GAME NOTES (PDF)
LIVE STATS (all games)
AUDIO: G1 | G2 | G3
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The slate is essentially wiped clean for WKU Baseball, who starts Conference USA play with a three-game series vs. UAB at Nick Denes Field. The Friday-to-Sunday series from March 15-17 will have first pitch times of 5 p.m., 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday's game will be hosted by WKU Students for Breast Cancer Awareness; the organization will set up tables at both entrances to the Hilltoppers' venue.
SERIES HISTORY
- WKU holds a 34-32 advantage in the all-time series, but UAB is 7-5 across four series since the Hilltoppers joined C-USA prior to the 2015 season. WKU is 19-13 at Nick Denes Field against the Blazers overall, but only 1-5 in the two series since 2015.
- In a 13-5 win on April 20, 2018, the Hilltoppers scored the third-most runs against UAB in the series history. WKU is 16-0 against the Blazers when scoring nine-plus runs.
WKU PREVIEW
- WKU past week recaps: THURSDAY vs. Memphis (L, 6-9) | FRIDAY vs. Memphis (L, 4-12) | SUNDAY vs. Memphis (L, 4-10) | WEDNESDAY at Kentucky (L, 0-15)
- Against the Wildcats, a five-error first inning led to four unearned runs for Kentucky, as the Hilltoppers fell behind early and eventually lost by a score of 15-0. Catcher Collin Hopkins picked up his first career hit in the eighth inning, while Dillon Nelson and Davis Sims also produced base hits for the Hilltoppers. Sims extended his hit streak to a team-best 11 games in the process.
- Right fielder Jake Sanford has been a power threat for the Hilltoppers. Going into the week, the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, native ranked 59th in Division I with four homeruns, 55th with a .722 slugging percentage, 54th with 39 total bases and 25th with seven doubles. His 12 extra-base hits (seven doubles, one triple and four homeruns) are currently tied for second among C-USA hitters. With a homerun in his fourth-straight game on Friday, Sanford became the first WKU hitter to accomplish the feat since catcher Jordan Newton from April 18-23, 2006. He failed to hit a homerun for a fifth-straight game on Sunday, but went 4-for-5 with two doubles to post the first four-hit day of 2019 by a Hilltopper.
- The first baseman Sims has been just as productive. For the season, his .328/.365/.500 slash line is catching up to his .333/.403/.552 mark over the past two seasons at Murray State. In 128 career games, the Paducah native has 100 runs scored, 111 driven in, 19 homeruns and 50 doubles — which rank tied for sixth among active Division I hitters.
- The designated hitter Nelson also had a productive series at the dish vs. Memphis, going 7-for-13 with three doubles, one homerun, three runs scored and six batted in. The Omaha, Neb., native pushed his season slash line from .229/.289/.257 to .313/.353/.458 in only three games. Along with Sanford (14), infielder Jack Wilson (10), catcher Matt Phipps (nine) and Sims (9), Nelson's 11 runs batted in gives the Hilltoppers five players with nine or more on the year.
- Speaking of Wilson, the Elizabethtown native leads qualified WKU hitters with a .370Â batting average and .463Â on-base percentage. He reached base in 8-of-12 plate appearances against the Tigers, going 6-for-10 with the bat plus one walk and one time hit by pitch.
UAB PREVIEW
- UAB past week recaps: FRIDAY at Ole Miss (L, 9-15) | SATURDAY at Ole Miss (L, 4-13)Â | SUNDAY at Ole Miss (L, 1-2) | TUESDAY vs. Troy (W, 8-6)
- The Blazers enter the series with a 10-7 overall record after suffering a sweep against the Rebels over the weekend, but coming back to defeat the Trojans in midweek action. This season, UAB boasts a 9-1 record at home, but a 1-5 mark in road games.
- Top hitters for the Blazers include left fielder Colton Schultz (.403/.474/.687 slash line with a team-high four homeruns, 19 runs scored and 23 driven in), catcher J. Paul Fullerton (.393/.470/.643 slash line with three homeruns, five doubles, 11 runs scored and 18 driven in) and outfielder Zack Davis (.389/.460/.574 slash line with five doubles, 14 runs scored and 12 driven in).
- UAB is also dangerous on the base paths, with center fielder Jess Davis (23-for-26 stolen bases with 18 runs scored) and infielder Tyler Tolbert (10-for-14 with 12 runs scored) combining for 33 steals on 40 attempts and 30 runs scored.
- Friday night's starter for the Blazers will be righty Graham Ashcraft, who sports a 2.45 earned run average in five games - three starts - across 18.1 innings pitched. He has walked 14 and struck out a team-high 24 while allowing 15 hits, and a .217 batting average against. He will be opposed in the opening game by WKU righty Eric Crawford, who has a 6.00 earned run average in seven appearances - one start - in 12 innings pitched.
- The pitching matchups for the final two games of the series are TBA at this time.
PROMOTIONS
- Sunday: WKU Students for Breast Cancer Awareness; the organization will set up tables at both entrances to the Hilltoppers' venue. Follow them on INSTAGRAM for more information.
- Sunday Funday: Children aged 12 and under receive free admission, and a kid's lunch special that includes a hot dog, bag of chips and can of soda will be $5. After the game, children are invited to run the bases with Big Red.
Flexible season ticket packages are now available for purchase, including 30 tickets for $50 that can be used at any of the 29 home games throughout the 2019 campaign. Fans can purchase tickets HERE, by calling 1-800-5-BIGRED or in person at the WKU Ticket Office during business hours.
