March 10, 2001
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University baseball team has now won nine straight games after sweeping a doubleheader with Oakland University on Saturday.
The Hilltoppers (11-5) got on the board quickly in game one, scoring four times in the first inning. LF Matt Fox (Sr., Louisville, Ky.) led off the frame with a single and moved to third on a double by 2B Brian Houdek (Sr., Dyer, Ind.). 3B Nick Turner (Jr., Louisville, Ky.) plated Fox with a single to center before catcher Ryan Cattell (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) cleared the bases with his fourth home run of the season, giving Western a 4-0 lead.
Western added a run in the third on an RBI single by CF David Lower (So., Alexandria, Ind.) and another in the sixth on a single by RF Dane Bourque (Jr., Gonzalez, La.), giving WKU a 6-0 advantage.
That was all the support Hilltopper starter Ryan Hutchison (Sr., Vincennes, Ind.) needed to pick up the win as he pitched 7.0 innings allowing no runs on three hits while striking out six. The win improved Hutchison to 4-2 on the season and was the 23rd win of his career, leaving him only one win shy of Heath Haynes for first on Western's career wins list. His six strikeouts also pushed him over 200 for his career.
Oakland (0-9) picked up two runs in the top of the ninth off reliever Mike Belch (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.) on a two-run home run by catcher Matt Gabrielli.
The Golden Grizzlies struck first in game two (a seven inning game). Oakland scored a run in the first off WKU starter Ryan Bicondoa (Jr., Lovelock, Nev.) as RF Kip Harris and Gabrielli hit back-to-back doubles, giving the Grizzlies an early 1-0 lead. Oakland took a 2-0 lead in the second as LF Josh Patton drove in 2B Josh Masden with a single to center.
Western got on the board in the third as Houdek doubled down the left field line and scored when Turner reached on an error by the third baseman, making it a 2-1 game. Oakland added a run in the sixth on a Harris RBI single to take a 3-1 lead, but Western scored in the bottom of the sixth on an two-out RBI single by pinch hitter Jeff Pacholke (Jr., Prairie Du Sac, Wisc.) to make it a 3-2 game.
Bicondoa shut down the Grizzlies in the top of the seventh to keep it a one-run game. 1B D.J. Johnson (So., Hudson, Ky.) led off the bottom of the inning reaching on an error by the shortstop. Turner then beat out a bunt and both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Patrick Ransdell (Jr., Bowling Green, Ky.). Lower was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Johnson scored on a passed ball to tie the game 3-3. Oakland then intentionally walked DH Brent Miller (Fr., Muncie, Ind.), however Oakland reliever Gordon Hosbein hit SS Luis Rodriguez on a 3-1 pitch to force in Turner with the winning run, giving WKU a 4-3 victory.
Bicondoa (3-2) picked up the win throwing all 7.0 innings allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out 12. Oakland starter Adam Sokoll got a no decision despite allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out seven through 6.0 innings.
Western and Oakland will conclude their three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m (CST).
- WKU -
