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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Following an exciting weekend that saw WKU Baseball complete a three-game sweep of UAB to begin Conference USA play, the Hilltoppers host Austin Peay for a 5 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday, March 19. This is the first of two meetings this season for WKU and the Governors, as the Hilltoppers travel to Raymond C. Hand Park on Tuesday, May 14 to complete the home-and-home series.
SERIES HISTORY
- WKU and Austin Peay will meet for the 159th time on the diamond, with the Hilltoppers holding a convincing 97-60-1 advantage in the all-time series. WKU has a 50-25-1 record in Bowling Green as well as a 47-35 advantage in Clarksville, Tenn.
- WKU and Kentucky first met in 1933, with the Governors sweeping a home-and-home with a 14-7 win in Clarksville and a 4-3 win in Bowling Green. Since 1964, the programs have played at least once every season except for 2014.
- The Hilltoppers traveled to Austin Peay on May 1, 2018, and were shut out by a score of 6-0. It was the first time WKU had been shut out in the series since 1978. (RECAP)
- The meeting prior to that, the Hilltoppers hit eight homeruns and defeated the Governors by an outrageous score of 22-17 on April 25, 2017, in Clarksville. (RECAP)
WKU PREVIEW
- WKU vs. UAB recaps: FRIDAY (W, 5-4) | SATURDAY (W, 6-5) | SUNDAY (W, 5-3)
- The Hilltoppers are coming off their first sweep to begin league play since defeating Middle Tennessee three times from March 15-16, 2013, to open the Sun Belt portion of the schedule. It was the team's first sweep of a C-USA opponent since defeating UTSA three times from April 22-24, 2016.
- After allowing 15 runs to Kentucky in a midweek game on Wednesday, the WKU pitching staff rebounded to allow only 12 runs in the entirety of the series vs. UAB. It was the fewest runs allowed by the Hilltoppers in a home C-USA set since holding Middle Tennessee to six runs in a series sweep from March 25-27, 2015.
- On Friday, right fielder Jake Sanford hit WKU's first walk-off homerun since Kaleb Duckworth's two-run shot on Opening Day 2017 to give the Hilltoppers a 6-5 victory over Valparaiso.
- On Saturday, WKU rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the top of the first to keep the Blazers scoreless for the rest of the game, winning on a walk-off hit by designated hitter Dillon Nelson.
- On Sunday, WKU turned a 5-4-3 triple play to end the fourth inning. It was the team's first triple play since Austin Peay hit into a 3-4 lineout against the Hilltoppers on April 14, 2009.
- WKU is 8-3 this season when holding opponents to six or fewer runs and 9-1 when scoring five or more runs.
AUSTIN PEAY PREVIEW
- Austin Peay vs. Tennessee Tech recaps: FRIDAY (W, 6-0) | SATURDAY (W, 10-4) | SUNDAY (W, 8-1)
- The Governors enter the week with an 8-9 overall record after sweeping the Golden Eagles over the weekend. Austin Peay has a 2-1 record in midweek games, including handing formerly No. 1 Vanderbilt its first loss of the season, a 7-6 win in Nashville on Feb. 27.
- The Governors are led by center fielder Garrett Spain (.375/.474/.563 slash line with seven extra-base hits, 14 runs scored and a team-high 18 runs batted in) and first baseman Parker Phillips (.283/.443/.617 slash line with a 14 runs batted in and team highs of 16 runs scored and 10 extra-base hits - including five homeruns). Phillips typically hits third in the lineup, while Spain serves as the Austin Peay cleanup hitter.
- Starting pitchers for the Governors and Hilltoppers remain TBA at this time. Lefty Jaques Pucheau has been a key weekend arm for Austin Peay, boasting a 0.87 earned run average and a 3-0 record in five starts, allowing only 13 hits with 39 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched. Righty Tyler Thompson has started the past three midweek contests for the visitors, sporting a 6.46 earned run average, allowing 19 hits - but only four walks - with 15 strikeouts in 15.1 frames.
PROMOTIONS
- Baseball Bingo: The first 150 fans at Nick Denes Field can pick up bingo cards and markers to mark off different plays during the game. The first five fans who achieve Bingo can go to the press box and claim their prize, which will be gift cards to local businesses.
- Midweek Specials: Fans can enjoy special pricing on traditional ballpark fare. Game tickets, popcorn and hot dogs will each be $2, and a large soft drink with a souvenir cup will be $5.
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.
