THE SCHEDULE
- The Hilltoppers will open their series on Friday, April 9 with a seven-inning doubleheader against Marshall beginning at 2 p.m. CT.
- WKU is then tentatively scheduled to play the Thundering Herd on Saturday dependent on weather.
- The Hilltoppers will plan to close out their series with FIU on Sunday, April 11 at 1 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
- WKU dropped its four-game weekend series to FIU, three games to one.
- The Hilltoppers opened the series with a 9-2 victory behind a strong performance from starting pitcher Jake Kates.
- WKU then dropped two close games during its Saturday doubleheader, with finals of 3-2 and 2-1.
- The Hilltoppers later fell in their series finale to the Panthers, 10-0.
SIMS NAMED SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATE
- WKU Baseball graduate student Davis Sims was named as a candidate for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award, it was announced on Thursday.
- Sims is one of just 30 candidates to make the list, and the lone Conference USA representative.
- The recognition adds to Sims' list of honors during 2021, as he was also named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List and the Preseason All-CUSA Team.
- To be eligible for the Senior CLASS Award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior athletically and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
NO DOUBLE TROUBLE
- WKU currently ranks first in the nation with 65 doubles on the season, with the squad averaging 2.32 doubles per game.
- Matthew Meyer leads the team with 10 doubles on the year, which ranks 22nd in the country and third in Conference USA.
- In the shortened 2020 season, the Hilltoppers closed out their campaign ranked 10th in the nation and first in C-USA with 41 doubles in just 16 games.
SERIES HISTORY
- WKU and Marshall have met 27 times in program history, with the Thundering Herd holding a slight 15-12 all-time edge.
- The teams last met on April 13, 2019, with the Hilltoppers splitting a road doubleheader at Marshall.
- WKU has won three of its past five contests against the Thundering Herd.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
- WKU is 12-16 on the season following its four-game weekend series at FIU.
- Offensively, there are two Hilltoppers batting over .300 on the season in Matthew Meyer (.366) and Jackson Gray (.363).
- Meyer and Gray both currently rank in the top-10 in Conference USA for both batting average and on-base percentage.
- On the mound, WKU pitchers have struck out 237 batters through 238.0 innings of action.
- Jake Kates currently ranks 17th in the nation with 55 strikeouts on the season, while Sean Bergeron ranks 27th in the country with an 8.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
SCOUTING THE THUNDERING HERD
- Marshall is 4-15 on the year after getting swept in its recent weekend series against Old Dominion.
- At the plate, the Thundering Herd have two starters batting .300 or better on the season, with Luke Edwards leading the way at .338.
- Marshall's pitching staff currently owns a 7.54 ERA while recording 161 strikeouts in 151.2 innings of work.
TICKETS AVAILABLE
- Capacity at WKU Baseball home games has increased to 50 percent. A limited number of tickets will now be sold at the gate beginning an hour prior to each contest. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first served basis. Tickets can be purchased for $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Fans are required to wear masks and practice social distancing during the game.
