Western Kentucky will host Illinois for a three-game series at Nick Denes Field this weekend, with first pitch times set for 5 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Today’s game was pushed back from 3 to 5 p.m. to allow warming temperatures to continue melting snow and ice.

The Hilltoppers (7-5) have won five straight games at Nick Denes Field. WKU has won both of its three-game series to begin the season, taking 2 of 3 from Southern Illinois and sweeping UNC Asheville at Nick Denes Field.

Illinois last visited Bowling Green in 2011 and WKU won 2 of 3 meetings. The two programs have met 11 times and Illinois holds the series advantage 8-3.

The Illini represent the second 2013 NCAA Regional participant the Hilltoppers have faced this season and are one of eight regional qualifiers on WKU’s schedule in 2014.

Western Kentucky senior second baseman Scott Wilcox and sophomore third baseman Thomas Peter both bring streaks into the series. Wilcox has started in 129 consecutive games dating back to 2011, while Peter has reached base in 19 straight games dating back to 2013. Wilcox’s start streak leads the Sun Belt Conference and ranks 13th nationally.

WKU’s starting pitchers have combined for a 4-0 record with a 1.49 ERA in 472/3 innings of work.

It will be Military Appreciation Weekend at Nick Denes Field, and all military personnel will receive free admission for all three games when they show a valid military ID and sign in at the gate.

The Illini caught fire with a sweep in Florida last weekend behind four dominant pitching performances. Illinois opened with a 3-2 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Friday afternoon followed by a 6-0 shutout of No. 23 Florida on Friday night. 

WKU enters the weekend with an RPI ranking of 62 after a 10-2 loss at Lipscomb on Wednesday. The Tops’ next four opponents – Illinois (65), Georgia (67), Georgia State (95) and Kentucky (37) – all have RPI rankings in the top 100. The Sun Belt is ranked as the 10th-best RPI conference.