Feb. 17, 2001
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky Baseball team dropped its 2001 home opener to Illinois State, 8-3, on Saturday.
The Redbirds (1-0) got on the board in the top of the first with three runs off Hilltopper starter Ryan Hutchison (Sr., Vincennes, Ind.). Leadoff hitter Ryan Cantrell doubled and scored on a single by Ed Tolzien. Jared DuFault and Mike Saunches also collected RBI singles in the opening frame.
ISU struck again in the third off Hutchison as Jon Peacock led off the inning with a home run to right center. The Redbirds plated two more runs in the third to take a 6-0 lead.
After an Illinois State run in the top of the sixth made it a 7-0 game, the Hilltoppers (2-4) finally got in the scoring column when RF Tim Cleland (Sr., Klamath Falls, Ore.) hit a two-run home run to left, making the score 7-2. After ISU added a run in the eighth to make it 8-2, Topper 1B Nick Turner (Jr., Louisville, Ky.) hit a solo home run in the ninth, his second of the season, for the third WKU run. However, Redbird relieverHeath Heiberger retired the next two batters to end the game.
Hutchison (1-2) suffered the loss going 4.0 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs while striking out three. ISU starter Neil Cotts got the win throwing 5.0 innings of one-hit baseball while striking out 11 Hilltopper batters.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow in a doubleheader at Nick Denes Field beginning at noon (CST).
