LAST TIME OUT
- The Hilltoppers took one of three games against North Dakota State in their first series of the season.
- WKU earned a 10-4 victory in the opener, with Jake Kates picking up the win on the mound after allowing just one hit and striking out seven in 4.1 innings of relief work.
- The Hilltoppers went on to drop games two and three of the series by scores of 8-5 and 10-2.
HILLTOPPER PRESEASON HONORS
- Davis Sims was named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List on Feb. 10. The award honors the top college hitter in Division I based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity, with the winner set to be announced in June.
- Sims was also voted to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team on Feb. 11, marking the second consecutive year that a Hilltopper has claimed the designated hitter slot on the All-Conference Team after Richard Constantine received the honor in 2020.
SERIES HISTORY
- Wednesday's contest will mark the 100th meeting between WKU and Vanderbilt, with the Commodores owning a 64-33-2 all-time series edge.
- The two squads last met on April 2, 2019, in a tightly contested game that saw Vanderbilt narrowly pull out a 5-4 victory.
- The Hilltoppers' last win against the Commodores came via a 3-2 victory on Feb. 25, 2014.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
- WKU is 1-2 on the year after completing its season-opening series against North Dakota State.
- Offensively, the Hilltoppers currently rank 34th in the nation with a .302 batting average. Six players are hitting .300 or better on the season in Richard Constantine (.429), Kevin Lambert (.375), Ray Zuberer III (.364), Davis Sims (.333), Jackson Gray (.333) and Matt Phipps (.300).
- On the mound, the squad currently owns a 5.88 ERA and has struck out 33 batters in 26.0 innings.
SCOUTING THE COMMODORES
- Vanderbilt is currently ranked top-five nationally by every major outlet.
- The Commodores are 2-0 on the season after sweeping their doubleheader against Wright State.
- At the plate, Vanderbilt currently owns a .328 batting average, with seven players hitting .333 or better.
- The Commodores also boast a 0.50 ERA on the mound and have struck out 31 batters in 18.0 innings.
