LAST TIME OUT
- WKU dropped a three-game home series to Marshall over the weekend.
- The Hilltoppers dropped a pitching duel against The Herd in the series opener, 2-1. Devyn Terbrak earned the starting nod, surrendering just four hits and two runs to go along with three strikeouts in 6.0 innings of action while Jake Kates closed out the final 3.0 frames, allowing just one hit and no runs while recording two strikeouts.
- WKU then dropped game two by a score of 8-1 before falling in the series finale, 8-4, with Andrew Delaney recording a three-run homer in the contest.
FRESHMAN ON FIRE
- True freshman Ty Batusich leads the team in on-base percentage (.416), slugging percentage (.561), home runs (eight), runs (28), RBI (29), walks (15) and total bases (74) while ranking second in batting average (.318) and doubles (eight).
- Batusich currently ranks 19th in Conference USA in both home runs and slugging percentage.
- Batusich was named the C-USA Hitter of the Week on Monday, March 7 after slashing .471/.500/.706 in four starts while racking up eight hits – including a double and home run – to go along with two runs and 10 RBI against (RV) Kentucky and Hartford.
FIRST AIN'T FREE
- The Hilltopper pitching staff currently ranks third in Conference USA and 32nd in the nation with just 3.41 walks allowed per nine innings.
- WKU also ranks third in C-USA and 57th in the country with a 2.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
- Individually, Devyn Terbrak currently ranks fifth in C-USA in both strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.10) and walks allowed per nine innings (1.50).
SERIES HISTORY
- WKU and Louisville have met 141 times in program history, with the Cardinals owning a slight 72-69 all-time series edge.
- The teams met earlier this season on March 29, with then-ranked No. 5 Louisville recording a 16-6 road victory.
- The Hilltoppers' last win against the Cardinals came on April 22, 2015, with WKU recording a 7-3 road victory.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
- WKU is 13-26 on the season following its series with Marshall over the weekend.
- Offensively, two Hilltoppers are hitting over .300 in Tristin Garcia (.333) and Ty Batusich (.318).
- On the mound, WKU has struck out 312 batters in 335.0 innings of action.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
- Louisville is 27-12 on the year after taking two of three games against No. 23 NC State over the weekend.
- The Cardinals are currently ranked in every major poll and are listed at No. 10 on the Collegiate Baseball Poll, No. 12 on the Baseball America Poll, No. 16 on the D1Baseball Poll and No. 17 on both the NCBWA and USA Today Coaches Poll.
- At the plate, Louisville has six players hitting above .300, led by Jack Payton who owns a .395 average.
- On the mound, the Cardinals own a 5.32 ERA to go along with 394 strikeouts in 352.0 innings of work.
