Vanderbilt Looks To Remain Unbeaten On Wednesday Against Western Kentucky

3/2/2004

Vanderbilt Looks To Remain Unbeaten On Wednesday Against Western Kentucky

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt baseball team will put its 7-0 record on the line Wednesday when it plays host to Western Kentucky at Charles Hawkins Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

Vanderbilt swept all three of its games in the Music City Classic over the weekend, including a 3-2 10-inning victory over Purdue on Sunday.

Vanderbilt is off to its best start since 1998 when former head coach Roy Mewbourne’s squad opened the season 10-0.

As a team Vanderbilt is hitting .359 with a .508 slugging percentage. The Commodores rank third in batting average and have the third fewest strikeouts per game in the Southeastern Conference.

On the mound, the Vanderbilt pitching staff currently ranks fourth in the SEC in ERA (2.39), second in opponent batting average (.186) and third in pickoffs (4). Since allowing four runs in the first two games of the season, the Commodores have surrendered just four runs (all earned) in the last five games for a miniscule 0.78 ERA.

Left-hander Stephen Shao will make his first career start for Vanderbilt. The freshman from Hermitage, Tenn., made his first appearance against Southern Illinois on Feb. 21. He worked 2.2 innings and struck out five while allowing two runs.

Western Kentucky comes to Nashville with a 3-7 record after dropping three consecutive games to Illinois and Mississippi State over the weekend at the Mississippi State Challenge. The Hilltoppers return 16 letterwinners from last season’s squad which went 34-22 overall and 12-11 in the Sun Belt Conference

Wednesday’s game was originally scheduled to be played at WKU’s Nick Denes Field in Bowling Green, Ky., but a conflict on the Vanderbilt campus for the return game with the Hilltoppers on April 21 forced the switch. As a result, Vanderbilt will travel to WKU on April 21.

Tickets can be purchased through the Vanderbilt Ticket Office by calling 322-GOLD. Additionally, tickets for the April 21 game may be used for admission to Charles Hawkins Field on Wednesday.