April 15, 2000
Jonesboro, Ark. - Western Kentucky's baseball team picked up its third straight win, defeating Arkansas State 8-2. Junior RHP Brandon Miller (4-3) pitched 8.0 innings, giving up two runs on 10 hits. Miller struck out two in the outing. LHP Tony Arthur (2-2) took the loss for the Indians, giving up four runs on five hits.
With the win, the Hilltoppers won their first Sun Belt Conference series since sweeping Arkansas-Little Rock March 10-12.
Arkansas State (17-19, 5-11 in Sun Belt Conference play) got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, DH Reed Bredensteiner singled to right to reach base. He moved to second when Miller hit Indian C Kent Brunen. RF Tommy Goforth then singled to left to score Bredensteiner. Indian 3B Allen Mazzanti then followed Goforth, with a single to left to score Brunen.
The Hilltoppers (17-20, 8-8 in SBC) answered the Indians challenge in the top of the third, scoring three runs. Junior DH Justin Herrguth took a walk to lead off the inning, and moved to second on freshman 1B D.J. Johnson's infield single. Junior CF Matt Johns then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third, and senior C Kevin Clutter hit a triple to center to knock in Herrguth and Johnson. Sophomore 3B Patrick Ransdell then grounded out to short to bring in Clutter. Junior SS Luis Rodriguez then reached on an error by Indian SS Ryan Reynolds, and junior LF Matt Fox reached on an error by 2B Josh Dickson. But Hilltopper junior 2B grounded out to short to end the Hilltopper threat.
The Indians threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning, when with one out Reynolds singled through the left side. Indian 1B Brandon Maricle then doubled down into the rightfield corner, moving Reynolds to third. But Miller got the next two Indian batters to ground out, ending the threat.
In the top of the fifth, Fox led off the inning with a single to right center. RHP Clint Helpenstill then came into the game for the Indians, and promptly hit Houdek. Cleland then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. Herrguth then single to short to knock in Fox. Junior 1B Eric Hammer, who came in for Johnson in the top of the third inning, doubled to left to score Houdek and Herrguth. The three runs in the inning gave the Hilltoppers a 6-2 lead.
In the top of the ninth, Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk. He moved to second on Houdek's single through the left side. Both runners moved on Cleland's groundout to third, and scored on senior PH Jeff Vance's single to left center, giving the Hilltoppers an 8-2 lead.
Senior RHP Josh Novotney came into the game in the ninth to finish off the game for the Hilltoppers. Novotney gave up just one hit and struck out one to finish off the game.
At the plate, Fox led the Hilltoppers going 2-for-5 with a run scored. Clutter was 1-fo-4 with a triple and 2 RBI. Hammer also had 2 RBI, going 1-for-4 from the plate.
The Hilltoppers and Indians will meet in the final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. (CDT) at Tomlinson Stadium.
