THE SCHEDULE
- The Hilltoppers will open their series on Friday, Feb. 25 with a 3 p.m. CT matchup against Central Michigan.
- WKU will then play a seven-inning doubleheader against the Chippewas beginning at noon on Saturday, Feb. 26.
- The Hilltoppers will close out their series with Central Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Hilltoppers took two of three games against Western Illinois in their first series of the season.
- WKU earned a 6-4 victory in its opener, with Jake Kates picking up the win and Mason Vinyard recording the save while Aidan Gilroy went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
- After dropping game two, the Hilltoppers recorded a 9-6 win in the rubber match, using a pinch-hit three-RBI double by Andrew Delaney in the eighth inning to help seal the deal.
SLUGGER STATUS
- Jackson Gray was named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List on Tuesday, Feb. 15. 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.
- Gray was one of just 44 Division I players named to the watch list, and the lone Conference USA representative.
FIRST AIN'T FREE
- The Hilltopper pitching staff has allowed just five walks while recording 31 strikeouts in 27.0 innings of action so far this season.
- WKU currently ranks third in the nation with just 1.67 walks allowed per nine innings.
- The Hilltoppers also rank fifth in the country with a 6.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
SERIES HISTORY
- WKU and Central Michigan have met just nine times in program history, with the Chippewas owning a 6-3 all-time series edge.
- The teams last met on Feb. 24, 2013, with the Hilltoppers earning a 4-2 home victory over Central Michigan.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
- WKU is 2-1 on the year after completing its season-opening series against Western Illinois.
- Offensively, Aidan Gilroy ranks first on the team with a .636 batting average, which is good for 13th in the nation and first in Conference USA.
- On the mound, relief pitcher Mason Vinyard has started the season off strong with a win and save while recording eight strikeouts and allowing just two hits and no runs in 3.2 frames.
SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS
- Central Michigan is 0-3 on the season after losses to West Virginia and Coastal Carolina last weekend.
- The Chippewas finished their 2021 campaign with a 42-18 record en route to an NCAA Regional appearance.
- Central Michigan was receiving votes in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll heading into the 2022 season.
- Offensively, the Chippewas are led by Jacob Donahue and Jakob Marsee, who are both hitting .500 on the season.
- On the mound, Central Michigan has struck out 18 batters in 25.0 innings of action.
