LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky baseball will honor its seniors and close the regular season this week as it hosts No. 2 Vanderbilt for a three-game series that opens Thursday night at Kentucky Proud Park. The Wildcats will be playing to earn a berth in next week’s Southeastern Conference Tournament, as they are currently in a three-way tie for the final spot.
The SEC Tournament includes only the top 12 teams in the league standings. Kentucky is battling both Alabama and South Carolina for the 12th spot in that field, with all three teams owning seven league wins. Alabama hosts Georgia and South Carolina travels to Mississippi State in their final series.
Before that, however, UK will try to take down the SEC-leading Commodores, who have won 13 of their last 15 games in conference play. The ‘Dores also have something on the line as they enter the weekend one game ahead of Arkansas in the SEC title race.
It is Salute to Service weekend at Kentucky Proud Park, with UK honoring a variety of military-affiliated outfits. Also, the Cats will say goodbye to seniors Marshall Gei, Ryan Johnson, Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Shinn in a pregame ceremony on Saturday.
All three games will air live on the SEC Network Plus, as well as radio on the UK Sports Network with the Voice of the Wildcats Darren Headrick on the call. Thursday and Friday’s games are set for 6:30 p.m. ET and Saturday’s first pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
Weekend Promotions
Friday – Buffett Night, beach towel giveaway, Chick-fil-A Kids Run the Bases after the game, TV raffle
Saturday – Patriotic cap giveaway, Kids Have a Catch after the game.
Sunday – Senior Day, Trading cards giveaway (set five of five), team autographs after the game.
Parking and Tailgating
Parking in all areas surrounding Kentucky Proud Park is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fans are encouraged to arrive as early as possible. The following areas will be open for parking:
· College Way lot immediately adjacent to Kentucky Proud Park
· Purple Lots by soccer/softball
· Kroger Field Blue Lot
· Kroger Field Green Lot
· Lot between the Arboretum and Commonwealth Drive
Shuttles will operate beginning two hours prior to first pitch and will run until one hour postgame. Shuttles will pick up at the Blue and Green lots and drop at the main gate of Kentucky Proud Park.
Parking lots will open four hours prior to first pitch and all tailgates must be in the back of vehicles. Tailgates can be coordinated through Tailgate Guys [nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com], a turnkey tailgate service.
Parking and shuttle map [nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]
Complete tailgating information [nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]
SERIES DETAILS
Thursday, May 16 vs. #2 Vanderbilt
6:30 p.m. ET; Kentucky Proud Park (Lexington, Ky.)
TV: SEC Network Plus; Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM in Lexington)
UK – TBA; Vanderbilt – RHP Drake Fellows (10-0, 4.08 ERA)
Friday, May 17 vs. #2 Vanderbilt
6:30 p.m. ET; Kentucky Proud Park (Lexington, Ky.)
TV: SEC Network Plus; Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM in Lexington)
UK – TBA; Vanderbilt – RHP Kumar Rocker (6-5, 4.22)
Saturday, May 18 vs. #2 Vanderbilt
2 p.m. ET; Kentucky Proud Park (Lexington, Ky.)
TV: SEC Network Plus; Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM in Lexington)
UK – Zack Thompson (LHP, 6-1, 2.14); Vanderbilt – Patrick Raby (RHP, 9-1, 2.42)
