May 10, 2000
Richmond, Ky. - Western Kentucky's baseball defeated Eastern Kentucky 16-6. Junior RHP Ryan Hutchison (8-3) picked up the win, giving up just three runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings pitched. RHP Chip Albright (6-7) took the loss for EKU, giving up three runs on five hits in 3.0 innings.
The Hilltoppers took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior CF Matt Fox led off the game with a single through the left side. He took second on a wild pitch by Albright, and scored on junior 2B Brian Houdek's single up the middle.
In the top of the third, WKU added another two runs, to take a 3-0 lead. With one out in the inning, Houdek singled to left to lead off the inning. He moved to third on senior LF Jeff Vance's double to left. Houdek then scored junior RF Tim Cleland's drag bunt single down the third baseline, and Vance moved to third. Vance then scored on freshman 1B D.J. Johnson's sacrifice fly to center.
In the top of the fifth, the Hilltoppers scored another run to take a 4-0 lead. With two outs, Vance doubled off the wall in left center. Cleland then reached base after being hit by Colonel RHP Nick Lively. Johnson followed with a single to center and his second RBI, scoring Vance.
In the bottom of the fifth, EKU got on the board with two runs. C Mike Schneider led off the inning with a single up the middle, but was forced out on LF Gabe Thomas' fielder's choice. Thomas moved to second when RF Mike Brown took a walk. Both runners moved up on CF Brad Sizemore's ground out to second. SS Kiley Vaughn then took a walk to load the bases, and DH Aaron Williams singled to center to score Thomas and Brown.
The Hilltoppers came back in the top of the sixth with two more runs, to take a 6-2 lead. With one out in the inning, sophomore C Brian Polson took a walk. After a flyout by junior SS Luis Rodriguez, Fox doubled off the wall in right to score Polson. Houdek then singled to left to score Fox.
The Hilltoppers exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh to blow the game open, 11-3. Cleland led off the inning with a single to left, but was thrown out at second trying to take the extra base. Johnson followed with a single to left, and moved to second when junior 1B Eric Hammer walked. Johnson scored and Hammer moved to third on sophomore 3B Tanner Townsend's single up the middle. Hammer and Townsend both scored on Polson's double down the leftfield line. After a flyout to center by Rodriguez, Fox reached after gitting hit by a pitch. He scored on Houdek's double down the rightfield line.
The Hilltoppers added two more runs in the top of the eighth. With one out, Johnson reached on a walk. He scored on Hammer's double to left center, and Hammer moved to third on an error by Sizemore. Townsend then grounded out to third, scoring Hammer. The Tops now led 13-3.
The Colonels would not die, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, PH Chris Frailly singled to right and moved to second when Thomas took a walk. Frailly then scored on Brown's double to right center, and Thomas moved to third.Thomas scored on a single to right by Sizemore, and Brown scored on a single up the middle by Vaughn.
The Hilltoppers took the three runs back in the top of the inning, taking a 16-6 lead. With one out in the top of the ninth, freshman PH David Lower doubled to right center. He scored on Houdek's double down the rightfield line. Houdek then moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on sophomore PH Patrick Ransdell's groundout to third. Cleland followed with a single to left, and moved to second on a wild pitch. Junior PH Matt Johns then singled up the middle to score Cleland.
Junior RHP Mike Belch came onto the mound in the bottom of the ninth and retired the Colonels in order.
Houdek led the Hilltoppers at the plate, going 5-for-6 with two doubles.
The Hilltoppers will travel to Ruston, La. this weekend to take on Louisiana Tech before traveling to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Mobile, Ala. The Hilltoppers will play a double header with the Bulldogs beginning at 3 p.m. (CDT) Friday, and will finish the series Saturday at 1 p.m.
