Feb. 10, 2001
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - The Western Kentucky baseball team improved to 2-2 on the season with 7-5 victory over the College of Charleston in 12 innings Saturday.
WKU got on the board in the top of the first against C of C starter Charlie Wentzky. 2B Brian Houdek (Sr., Dyer, Ind.) and RF Tim Cleland (Sr., Klamath Falls, Ore.) hit back-to-back doubles. An RBI single by 1B D.J. Johnson (So., Symsonia, Ky.) plated Cleland to put the Hilltopper up 2-0. The Cougars answered in the bottom of the first as SS Nick Orlandos scored on an error by Hilltopper starting pitcher Ryan Bicondoa (Jr. Lovelock, Nev.) to make it a 2-1 game.
Western scored again in the sixth as 3B Tanner Townsend (Jr., London, Ky.) led off the inning with a single and scored on a two-out double by LF Matt Fox (Sr., Louisville, Ky.). Fox moved to third on an infield single by Houdek, and scored on passed ball to make it a 4-1 Hilltopper lead.
College of Charleston (0-2) tied the game at 4-4 with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, scoring on a by RF Brett Spivey and a double by 1B Greg Alden. Alden later scored to tie the game on a error by Townsend on a pick off attempt. The Cougars took the lead, 5-4, in the bottom of the eighth as 2B John McCarty scored on a single by C Matt Lauderdale off Houdek, who relieved Bicondoa at the start of the inning.
The Hilltopper answered in the top of the ninth as Houdek and Cleland both singled to start the inning. After a fielders choice by Johnson put runners on the corners with one out. A walk to pinch hitter Dane Bourque (Jr., Gonzalez, La.) loaded the bases and an RBI groundout by David Lower (So, Alexandria, Ind.) plated Houdek to tie the game 5-5.
The Cougars threatened in the bottom of the tenth, putting the potential winning run on third with one out, but Houdek got a groundout and strikeout to end the threat. Western finally broke through in the twelfth. Lower was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Townsend reached on an error by Lauderdale and both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by SS Luis Rodriguez (Sr., Rio Piedra, Peurto Rico). Lower scored on a wild pitch by C of C reliever Brett Davey to put the Toppers on top 6-5. Western added an insurance run when Townsend scored on a double steal.
Houdek picked up his first win of the season in relief, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing only one run on three hits and striking out four. Bicondoa threw 7.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out five Cougar hitters. Houdek also led WKU at the plate going 4-for-5 and scoring two runs. Fox also added three hits.
The Hilltopper will wrap up their trip to Charleston tomorrow as they take on Charleston Southern at 12:30 CST.
-- WKU --
