LAST TIME OUT
- The Hilltoppers moved to 8-3 on the season after taking two of three against USC Upstate in their first road series of the season.
- WKU dropped the series-opener to the Spartans, using a five-run eighth-inning to make a comeback attempt before eventually falling short, 12-7.
- The Hilltoppers evened the series in game two, recording an 8-6 10-inning victory in a back-and-forth affair, with Bailey Sutton picking up the win and Dalton Shoemake closing things out for the save.
- WKU came out on top in the series finale, earning a 17-9 win while registering season-highs in runs, hits (16) and walks (12).
STRONG GLOVE GAME
- Through 11 games, the Hilltoppers sit at 17th in the nation with a team fielding percentage of .984, which ranks first in the conference.
- The squad has committed just seven errors in 425 chances, as opposed to 17 errors in 386 chances (.956) by their opponents.
DOUBLE 'EM UP
- The Hilltoppers currently rank 48th in the nation and third in Conference USA with 25 doubles through their first 11 contests, averaging out to 2.27 doubles per game.
- Jack Wilson leads the squad with seven doubles on the year, which ranks 13th in the nation and first in C-USA.
PRODUCTION AT THE PLATE
- WKU currently owns a team batting average of .277 on the season, compared to a .253 average by Hilltopper opponents.
- Six players are hitting .273 or better so far this year, including three players at .340 or above.
- Matt Phipps and Ray Zuberer III are tied for the team lead with a .341 average, followed closely behind by Wilson at .340.
MOWING THEM DOWN ON THE MOUND
- The Hilltopper pitching staff has struck out 97 batters through 100.0 innings of action so far this season, which equates to an impressive 8.73 strikeouts per nine innings.
- Four pitchers have fanned 10 or more batters on the season, with Jake Kates (25), Michael Darrell-Hicks (14), Collin Lollar (13) and Sean Bergeron (11) all in double digits.
- Kates' 25 strikeouts have come in just 13.1 innings of play, which gives him a strikeout rate of 17.2 per nine innings.
SERIES HISTORY
- WKU and Belmont have met 50 times in program history, with the Hilltoppers owning a slight 26-24 all-time edge against the Bruins.
- The two teams' last game came on April 16, 2019, with the Hilltoppers earning a 12-7 road victory.
- WKU has come out victorious in its past five matchups against Belmont.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
- The Bruins are 9-3 on the year, most recently sweeping its series against UNC Asheville.
- Belmont has three regulars currently hitting .282 or better on the season, led by John Behrends at .298.
- The Bruins' projected Tuesday starter, Aaron Hubbell, is 1-1 on the season with a 3.75 ERA through four appearances.
