THE SCHEDULE
- The Hilltoppers will open their series against the Owls with a seven-inning doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. CT on Friday, May 7.
- WKU is then tentatively scheduled to play Florida Atlantic on both Saturday and Sunday, with game times currently TBD.
SENIOR DAY
- Senior Day is tentatively set for Sunday, but is subject to change dependent on weather.
- The Hilltoppers will be recognizing eight players in Richard Constantine, Kevin Lambert, Matthew Phipps, Davis Sims, Bailey Sutton, Colby Taylor, Jack Wilson and Ray Zuberer III.
CARLIN NAMED C-USA HITTER OF THE WEEK
- Justin Carlin was named Conference USA Hitter of the Week, as announced by league officials on Monday, May 3.
- The recognition marks the third time this season a Hilltopper has been tabbed C-USA Hitter of the Week, as Jackson Gray and Ray Zuberer III have also received the honor this year.
- Carlin produced a .500/.550/1.125 slash line in the Hilltoppers' four-game sweep of Marshall over the weekend. Carlin racked up an impressive three home runs and 12 RBI in the series while adding five runs, three walks, two steals and one double.
- The junior had a career day at the plate in game three of the series while adding his name to the program record books, blasting three long balls and tallying eight RBI while going 4-for-5 in WKU's 15-5 victory in the backend of its Saturday doubleheader. Heading into the seventh and final frame with the game tied at 5-5, the Hilltoppers broke out for 10 runs while Carlin hit two homers in the inning, including a grand slam.
- Carlin was just the second Hilltopper since at least 2005 [as far back as WKU game-by-game records go] to rack up three home runs and eight RBI in a single game. The last player to accomplish the feat was Jake Sanford, who is Conference USA's only triple crown winner in league history, when he went 3-for-6 with three homers and eight RBI in a 12-9 win over Eastern Kentucky on March 26, 2019.
LAST TIME OUT
- WKU swept Marshall for the second time this season, making them 8-0 against The Herd this year.
- The Hilltoppers earned a 10-6 victory over Marshall in the series opener.
- WKU then took both games in Saturday's doubleheader via scores of 6-1 and 15-5, with the Hilltoppers using 10 runs in the final frame of game two to cap off the day.
- The Hilltoppers completed their sweep on Sunday, coming back from a 6-2 deficit in the ninth inning to record a 10-6 victory.
FIRST AIN'T FREE
- The Hilltoppers currently rank ninth in the nation and third in Conference USA with just 2.75 walks allowed per nine innings.
- WKU also ranks 22nd in the country and third in the conference with a 3.04 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
- Individually, Sean Bergeron currently ranks fourth in the nation with 0.82 walks allowed per nine innings and ninth with a 9.83 strikeout-to-walk ratio, while ranking first in the conference in both categories.
NO DOUBLE TROUBLE
- WKU currently ranks ninth in the nation and second in Conference USA with 90 doubles on the season, with the squad averaging 2.05 doubles per game.
- Matthew Meyer leads the team with 13 doubles on the year, which ranks fifth in the conference.
- 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 Florida Atlantic have met 43 times in program history, with the Owls owning a 30-13 all-time edge.
- The teams last met on May 23, 2019, with Florida Atlantic recording a 6-1 win in the contest.
- The Hilltoppers' last win against the Owls came on April 20, 2019, where WKU earned an 11-4 home victory.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
- WKU is 23-21 (13-11 C-USA) on the season following its sweep of Marshall.
- Offensively, there are two Hilltopper regulars batting over .300 on the year in Jackson Gray (.356) and Matthew Meyer (.303).
- Gray currently ranks third in Conference USA in batting average while also ranking third in the league with a .470 on-base percentage.
- On the mound, WKU pitchers have struck out 337 batters while allowing just 111 walks through 363.0 innings of action.
- Jake Kates currently leads the team with 76 strikeouts on the season, which ranks fourth in the conference.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
- Florida Atlantic is 24-20 (13-11 C-USA) on the year after taking three of four in its recent series against FIU.
- At the plate, the Owls have three starters hitting .300 or better on the season, with Nolan Schanuel leading the way at .333.
- Florida Atlantic's pitching staff currently owns a 6.13 ERA while recording 340 strikeouts in 365.2 innings of work.
