In wrapping up fall workouts, the Western Kentucky baseball program is hosting its annual “Fall World Series” Thursday through Saturday at Nick Denes Field. Admission is free.

The “series” opener will be at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Friday’s game time is also 4:30 p.m., while first pitch for Saturday’s finale is set for 1 p.m..

WKU is coming off its second Sun Belt Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons. The Hilltoppers will try to become the league’s first repeat winners of the event since South Alabama in 2000-01 when the 2009 edition takes place on May 20-23 in Troy, Ala.

Returning 12 of 14 position players and nine of their top 12 arms, the 2009 Hilltoppers are preparing for a run at the program’s first-ever SBC regular season crown. Senior outfielder Chad Cregar, a Second-Team All-American in 2008, hit .360 and slugged .680 with 21 home runs and a school record 82 RBIs. Wade Gaynor, Matt Ridings and Jake Wells join Cregar as returning All-Conference performers while Wells earned SBC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors for WKU last year.

WKU will open the season at 3 p.m. Feb. 20 at home against Toledo.