WKU Baseball will play its first midweek game against No. 22 ranked University of Kentucky Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington.
The Hilltoppers currently sit at 5-3 after their series win against Southeast Missouri State. WKU took three of the four games and outscored SEMO 47-32.
Junior infielder Lane Arroyos has been a key acquisition for the Hilltoppers as he extended his on-base streak to eight, going 7-15 with seven RBI and four walks against SEMO.
The Hilltoppers’ pitching has shown early promise. Graduate student Aaron Robertson has emerged as a reliable starter, tossing six innings with five hits, two runs, and striking out eight in game two against SEMO. Junior Zach Lyles has also flashed closer potential, earning two saves and allowing just one baserunner across three innings last weekend.
“Some of these guys that didn’t experience last weekend or this weekend in the first eight games is going to be thrown to the wolves in really, a cold Lexington, Kentucky,” said Head Coach Marc Rardin after game four against SEMO.
In their 8-7 loss in game three, the Hilltoppers left nine runners on base, seven of which were when the game was within one run.
The Wildcats enter Wednesday’s matchup 5-3 and dropped four spots in national rankings after a loss to Morehead State and a loss in game three against the University of Evansville.
UK will be without its star shortstop, sophomore Tyle Bell, who hurt his shoulder on opening day. Bell went 2-5 with an RBI when WKU and UK faced off last year. The Hilltoppers went on to win the game 6-4 after a two-hour lightning delay.
Overall, WKU leads the head-to-head 13-12 since 1999. However, the Hilltoppers are 7-9 at Lexington.
An in-state clash with No. 22 Kentucky gives WKU an early-season opportunity to make noise beyond Conference USA play. The Hilltoppers will have an opportunity to validate their early offensive surge and prove they can execute in high-leverage moments. First pitch set for 3 p.m. CT.
