BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University baseball team will close its current nine-game homestand Tuesday with a matchup against nationally-ranked Louisville. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bowling Green Ballpark in downtown Bowling Green.

The Hilltoppers (18-26) are 3-0 over the last two years at Bowling Green Ballpark. The offense has totaled 50 runs on 53 hits, including 22 extra-base hits. Last March against Louisville, WKU tallied three triples, two doubles and two home runs while against UK they picked up two doubles, two triples and a pair of home runs.

Louisville (31-13) picked up a 9-2 victory over WKU when the teams met at Jim Patterson Stadium in Louisville, Ky. earlier this season on April 3. The Cardinals are ranked No. 18 by NCBWA, No. 19 by USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and No. 22 by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball in polls released Monday.

WKU is coming off a series loss at home to Louisiana-Monroe and is tied for sixth in the league heading into this weekend's road series against Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla.

There are several promotions scheduled for Tuesday night. The first 500 WKU students into the gates will receive a free WKU Baseball t-shirt. Other prizes and giveaways include a pair of tickets to the Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw Concert on June 23rd at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee, a 32" Vizio LCD HD TV courtesy of NECCO and South Central Bank, a HTV Evo 3D courtesy of WKU Student Publications and many more prizes.

ALL WKU Students will receive free admission with their WKU Student ID and tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth (ages 3-12). All 2012 WKU Baseball season ticket vouchers will also be accepted for this game. Gates will open at 4 p.m. For tickets or more information, please call 1-800-5-BIG RED.

Complete game notes are available in .pdf form at the link at the bottom of the page.

Game 45:
Tuesday, May 1 // 6:00 PM (CT)
WKU (18-26) vs. Louisville (31-13)
Bowling Green, Ky. // Bowling Green Ballpark (4,500)

Pitching Probables:
Louisville: Chad Green (Sophomore RHP; 3-0, 2.10 ERA)
WKU: Ian Tompkins (Freshman LHP; 2-2, 7.75 ERA)