Scouting Kentucky baseball’s Lexington Regional opener opponent

The Western Michigan Broncos play the Wildcats on Friday at Noon

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Kentucky baseball’s coaching staff is working to scout the Western Michigan Broncos ahead of the opener of the Lexington Regional on Friday at noon.

The Wildcats face the reigning Mid-American Conference champions in the first game of the NCAA Tournament at Kentucky Proud Park.

Western Michigan beat Ball State twice and Bowling Green once by a combined score of 29-3 to claim the MAC crown this season.

Two of those games were shutouts. The Broncos are ranked second in the nation in shutouts with seven.

As two-time MAC champions, Western Michigan is no stranger to postseason appearances with 13 in program history. But, this trip is the first since 2016.

Kalamazoo, where the university is located, has seen 32 wins this season which is the best record since 1993.

While the Broncos are a threat as the four seed in Lexington, their Rating Percentage Index (RPI) is far below the heights of the Wildcats.

Kentucky’s RPI is third in the nation and WMU’s is 122 spots below at 125.