March 15, 2010
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt will close out a season-long nine-game home stand on Tuesday as Western Kentucky comes to town for a 6 p.m. contest at Hawkins Field.
The game is first of a back-to-back home-and-home series with the Hilltoppers as the two teams will meet again in Bowling Green on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
The Commodores, winners of 10 straight games, are 14-1 on the season after sweeping Ohio over the weekend. VU moved up in all the polls this week, peaking at No. 16 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. The Dores are also ranked No. 18 in Collegiate Baseball, No. 19 in Baseball America and No. 22 by Rivals.com.
WKU is 12-4 on the year and 3-0 in the Sun Belt Conference after sweeping New Orleans on the road over the weekend. The Hilltoppers at one point were ranked in the Top 25 after starting 5-1 with wins over Texas A&M, Texas State and Baylor.
Sophomore outfielder Kes Carter leads the Hilltopper regulars with a .426 batting average to go with three homers, four doubles and 17 RBI. Catcher Matt Rice is the top power source with four homers and 20 RBI and is hitting at a .359 clip. As a team, Western Kentucky is hitting .302 with 18 homers and 135 runs scored (8.4 per game).
The WKU pitching staff has a 4.31 ERA with 139 strikeouts and 50 walks in 144.0 innings. They will start a pair of right-handers Brian Edelen (1-0, 0.79 ERA) tomorrow and then Taylor Haydel (0-0, 6.28 ERA) on Wednesday
The Commodores will send junior right-hander Chase Reid to the mound tomorrow. Reid is 2-0 with a 0.61 ERA and has struck out 14 with just two walks in 14.2 innings. Wednesday’s starter is to be determined.
VU’s 14-1 start is the best since starting the 2007 season at 20-0. Currently the Commodores lead the Southeastern Conference with a .352 team batting average and a 2.15 earned run average.
After the midweek series, Vanderbilt will open Southeastern Conference play at Alabama next weekend. Game times are at 6:35 p.m. on Friday, 3:05 p.m. on Saturday and 2:05 p.m. on Sunday.