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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — After a weekend in The Sunshine State, WKU Baseball returns home for a series against visiting Memphis at Nick Denes Field. Originally scheduled for a Friday-to-Sunday set, the Hilltoppers and Tigers will play their first game on Thursday, March 7 at 2 p.m., while the remaining contests in the days to follow are TBA at this time.
SERIES HISTORY
- These will be the first meetings between WKU and Memphis in Bowling Green; in four previous games between the two clubs, the Tigers hold a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series.
- The Hilltoppers opened the 2018 season at Memphis, winning 1-of-3 games at FedExPark on Feb. 17 and 18. After dropping one to the Tigers on Opening Day, WKU rebounded to split a doubleheader to cap the series. Recaps: SATURDAY (L, 0-4) | SUNDAY (W, 4-1 & L, 1-7)
- The only other meeting between the Hilltoppers and Memphis was in Charlotte, N.C., where the Tigers defeated WKU by a score of 13-3 in a neutral-site contest played on May 11, 1987.
WKU PREVIEW
- WKU Cox Diamond Invitational recaps: FRIDAY vs. UNF (L, 2-9) | SATURDAY vs. ULM & UT (L, 3-4 & L, 3-6 [7])
- Against the Ospreys, lefty starter Troy Newell was stellar through the first two innings, keeping UNF scoreless on 29 pitches with three strikeouts and only one hit allowed. But in the third, he walked six - one intentional - and the Ospreys scored six two-out runs, the dagger being a double by designated hitter David Maberry with the bases loaded. The Hilltoppers recorded both of their runs in the seventh, when designated hitter Dillon Nelson slapped a two-run single into left field that brought the score to 9-2.
- Against the Warhawks, lefty starter Dalton Shoemake — making his first career start following 8.1 scoreless innings to start the season — was lights out for the first three frames, shutting out ULM on 35 pitches with one strikeout and one baserunner allowed. But after two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth, he exited the contest with WKU trailing 3-0. The Hilltoppers chipped back into it with an RBI double off the center-field wall by infielder Davis Sims in the sixth, then a game-tying two-run homerun by right fielder Jake Sanford with two outs in the eighth. ULM regained the lead by a score of 4-3 in the next half-frame, however, as a bases-loaded fielders' choice scored the eventual game-winning run following two walks and a hit by pitch.
- Against the Volunteers, WKU took a 1-0 lead in the second when center fielder Jackson Swiney singled home Matt Phipps with two outs in the inning. But UT stormed back in the bottom half, scoring six runs — including a three-run homerun by first baseman Luc Lipcius — to take a 6-1 lead. The Hilltoppers edged closer on solo homeruns by Sims in the third and Sanford in the sixth, but ultimately fell by a score of 6-3 in the scheduled seven-inning contest.
- With his pair of dingers on Saturday, Sanford became only the eighth WKU hitter since 2005 to hit a homerun in two games on the same day.
MEMPHIS PREVIEW
- Memphis at Middle Tennessee recaps: FRIDAY (L, 1-2 [10]) | SATURDAY (W, 7-5 & W, 8-6)
- The Tigers enter the series with a 4-7 overall record after taking 2-of-3 games against the Blue Raiders over the weekend, but losing on a walk-off in the ninth at Lipscomb on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 3-2. Head coach Daron Schoenrock is in his 15th season at the helm of the program, boasting a 386-437 overall record with Memphis. He is assisted by Russ McNickle (sixth season) and Clay Greene (eighth season), as well as volunteer Tim DeJohn (second).
PROMOTIONS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
- Sunday: Free WKU red towels for the first 100 fans
- 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.
- Doubleheader (IF APPLICABLE): One ticket will be good for admission to both contests.
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.
