By David Schuh | @DSchuhKernel

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The No. 23 UK baseball team hit a wall in late-April with seven-straight losses, but a series win at Ole Miss last weekend has them welcoming to Arkansas, looking to continue the newfound momentum.

“Any time you have a disappointing weekend, the next one is really important,” UK head coach Gary Henderson said. “It seems like every weekend is the most important one of the year. We still have a chance to do everything we set out to do.”

UK fell to Arkansas, 2-1, in Friday’s series opener at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

During the game it was announced that Sunday’s game has been moved forward due to the possibility of inclement weather and therefore the teams would play a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Cats’ first matchup Saturday with the Razorbacks will feature a pitching matchup of two guys going in very different directions.

Arkansas will start junior right-hander Ryne Stanek, who boasts a stat line that has been as dominant as it looks.

Stanek is 5-2 this season with a 1.60 ERA in 11 starts. If that isn’t astounding enough in the SEC, consider his .210 opponent batting average or 2.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Henderson knows his team’s offense better be at its finest.

“(Arkansas) has good starting pitching,” Henderson said. “You’d anticipate it will be another weekend of close games.“

Stanek’s opposition in the noon game, freshman right-hander Kyle Cody, started fast but has fallen on hard times of late.

His ERA currently sits at 5.49, the highest of the Cats’ regular starting pitchers.

He is coming off a strong outing, however, in UK’s 18-inning loss to Western Kentucky on April 23.

Cody gave up one earned run in six innings, striking out seven.

The first game Saturday will begin at noon at Cliff Hagan Stadium as part of a doubleheader to close out the series.

It will be televised locally on Fox Sports South.

The second game of the day and third of the series will pit the Cats’ junior left-handed pitcher Corey Littrell (5-3, 3.22 ERA) against Arkansas’ senior left-handed pitcher Randall Fant (4-1, 2.34 ERA).

That game will start no sooner than 45 minutes after the conclusion of the noon game.