HADLEY, Ky. (Interstat) — Western Kentucky hosts Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Nick Denes Field, with rain and 74 degrees in the forecast.

The Hilltoppers (26-22) own a decided edge in the standings, 15 games ahead of the struggling Colonels (11-36). The statistical projections reinforce that gap: Interstat’s game simulator forecasts a 7-2 Western Kentucky victory, with an 82.4% win probability per the service’s ELO system.

Outfielder Cael Frost has been a driving force for Western Kentucky. In Sunday’s 9-8 win at Middle Tennessee, Frost went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs. Over his last seven games entering Wednesday, Frost is hitting .421 (8-for-19) with three homers and 10 RBIs. He also drove in a run against Eastern Kentucky in a 13-0 Hilltoppers victory on April 21, the most recent meeting between the two programs.

Eastern Kentucky will counter with right-hander Jack Briese. The freshman has posted mixed results. In Sunday’s 10-5 loss to Lipscomb, Briese threw three scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits with two strikeouts. However, against Western Kentucky on April 21, he was tagged for two earned runs on three hits in just one inning. Overall this season, Briese has a 5.84 ERA over 49.1 innings.

The Colonels (11-36) have lost nine of their last 10 games, with the lone bright spot a 16-6 win at Northern Kentucky on April 28. Their offense has struggled to keep pace, scoring three runs or fewer in seven of those 10 contests.

Western Kentucky enters having won three of its last four series. After dropping the opener at Middle Tennessee last Friday, the Hilltoppers answered with an 11-0 shutout Saturday and the 9-8 comeback Sunday. Their pitching staff has been effective in recent outings, allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of the last seven games.

The Colonels’ last win over Western Kentucky came in 2023; the Hilltoppers have taken three straight in the series by a combined score of 39-8.

Eastern Kentucky begins a three-game series at Austin Peay on Friday. Western Kentucky opens a three-game home set against Dallas Baptist on Friday.