Feb. 12, 2001
Charleston, S.C. - The Western Kentucky baseball team dropped a 4-3 decision to Charleston Southern on Sunday.
Western plated two runs in the first inning off Bucs starter Ryan Smith. RF Tim Cleland (Sr., Klamath Falls, Ore.) drew a two-out walk and was brought home on home run to left by 1B Nick Turner (Jr, Louisville, Ky.), his first homer of the season. CSU got on the board in the third as Hilltopper starter Kevin Sadowski (Sr., Cresthill, Ill.) hit two batters and walked another to load the bases. RF Cory Evans then scored on a wild pitch, making it a 2-1 game. Sadowski avoided further damage, getting a strikeout and groundout to end the inning with the bases loaded.
Charleston Southern took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. LF Mario Suarez led off the inning with a single, and later scored on a single by Evans. 1B Brandon Massey then plated Evans with a double to put the Bucs on top, 3-2.
WKU scored two run the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at 3-3. CSU reliever Patrick Boucher walked three batters to load the bases with two outs. Pinch hitter David Lower (So., Alexandria, Ind.) pushed a bunt past the pitcher for a single, scoring 2B Brian Houdek (Dyer, Ind.) with the tying run.
Charleston Southern answered in the bottom of the inning as Hilltopper reliever John Bartsch (Sr., Auburn, Calif.) walked two hitters. Matt Wilhite (So., Franklin, Ky.) relieved Bartsch with two outs when Massey singled through the right side, driving in a run to make it 4-3.
The Hilltoppers rallied in the top of the ninth as SS Luis Rodriguez (Sr., Rio Piedra, Puerto Rico) and C Brian Polson (Jr., Louisville, Ky.) both walked to start the inning. LF Matt Fox (Sr., Louisville, Ky.) dropped a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. After an intentional walk to Houdek loaded the bases, CSU reliever Robbie Sharpton got a strikeout and groundout to end the game.
Bartsch suffered the loss going 3.2 innings, allowing one run while striking out three and walking four batters. Sadowski went 4.0 innings, allowing three runs of five hits, striking out three. Rodriguez led the Toppers offensively with three hits.
WKU will open their home schedule next Saturday with a doubleheader against Illinois State beginning at noon (CST).
