LAST TIME OUT
- The Hilltoppers faced Central Michigan in a four-game series over the weekend, earning a win in the finale on Sunday.
- After dropping the first three games by just eight total runs, WKU won game four by a score of 14-7.
- Those 14 runs marked a season-high for the Hilltoppers, as the offense racked up 14 hits and six walks, with four players producing multi-hit performances.
FRESHMAN ON FIRE
- True freshman Ty Batusich has had a hot start to his first season on The Hill offensively, leading the team in home runs (four), RBI (nine), total bases (22), on-base percentage (.517) and slugging percentage (1.000) through the squad's first seven games.
- Batusich currently ranks eighth in the nation for home runs and 19th for slugging percentage.
- In the Hilltoppers' recent four-game series against Central Michigan, Batusich produced a .500/.625/1.333 slash line while adding six runs, six RBI, three home runs and a double.
FIRST AIN'T FREE
- The Hilltopper pitching staff currently ranks third in Conference USA and 40th in the nation with just 3.05 walks allowed per nine innings.
- Individually, Sean Bergeron ranks sixth in C-USA with only 0.90 walks allowed per nine innings.
- WKU also ranks fifth in C-USA and 39th in the country with a 3.35 strikeout-to-walk ratio, compiling 67 strikeouts compared to just 20 walks so far this season.
SERIES HISTORY
- WKU and Kentucky have met 67 times in program history, with the Wildcats owning a 39-28 all-time series edge.
- The teams last met on March 9, 2021, with the Wildcats earning a tightly contested 6-5 victory over WKU.
- The Hilltoppers' last win against Kentucky came on March 15, 2016, with WKU recording a 14-6 road victory.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
- WKU is 3-4 on the season following its four-game series against Central Michigan over the weekend.
- Offensively, three Hilltoppers are hitting over .300 on the season in Tristin Garcia (.409), Aidan Gilroy (.393) and Ty Batusich (.364).
- On the mound, WKU has compiled a 4.73 team ERA while striking out 67 batters in 59.0 innings of action.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
- Kentucky is 7-0 on the year after recently sweeping its three-game series against Western Michigan.
- The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 28 in the most recent Collegiate Baseball Poll, while also receiving votes in the NCBWA and USA Today Coaches Poll.
- At the plate, Kentucky has five players hitting above .300, led by Daniel Harris IV who currently owns a .500 batting average.
- The Wildcats' pitching staff has produced a 3.46 team ERA while recording 88 strikeouts in 65.0 frames.
