April 29, 2001
Miami, Fla. - For the first time in five trys, the Western Kentucky baseball team defeated Florida International on the Golden Panthers' home field, taking Sunday's series-fianle 3-2.
Western (29-20, 12-9 SBC) got on the board in the in the second inning as RF Brent Miller (Fr., Muncie, Ind.) hit a one out single to left. CF Tim Cleland (Sr., Klamath Falls, Ore.) followed with a single to extend his hitting streak to eight games and put runners at first and second. 2B Patrick Ransdell (Jr., Bowling Green, Ky.) then appeared to execute a hit-and-run single to left, but the ball hit Miller on his way to third base, retiring him for the second out. However, SS Matt Wilhite (So., Franklin, Ky.) singled just out of the reach of 2B Tino Burgos, plating Cleland to give the Toppers a 1-0 lead.
FIU (37-13, 13-8 SBC) broke through in the seventh to take the lead. DH Brad Eldred led off the frame with a single. RF Mike Quintana followed with a double to right, putting runners at second and third. After Hilltopper starter Brian Houdek (Sr., Dyer, Ind.) struck out SS Mickey Torello, 3B Gus Alfonso was intentionally walked to load the bases. Houdek then threw a wild pitch, allowing Eldred to score and tie the game 1-1. Houdek then struck out pinch hitter Daniel Bustamante for the second out, but a passed ball allowed Quintana to score and give the Golden Panthers a 2-1 lead.
The Hilltoppers responded in the eight inning as Houdek and 1B D.J. Johnson (So., Hudson, Ky.) had back-to-back one-out singles to put runners at first and second. After FIU starter Pual Zervas stuck out catcher Ryan Cattell (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) for the second out, 3B Tanner Townsend (Jr., London, Ky.) singled to right, scoring Houdek to tie the game 2-2. Dane Bourque (Jr., Gonzalez, La.), who replaced Miller, followed with a double down the left-field line, driving in Johnson to give WKU a 3-2 lead.
Florida International threatened in its half of the eight as 1B Hector Nunez drew a one-out walk from WKU reliever Mike Belch (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.). After Belch struck out Eldred for the second out, Quintana singled and Torello walked to load the bases. However, Belch got Alfonso to ground out to Townsend at third to end the threat and keep WKU on top 3-2. Belch shut down the Golden Panthers in the ninth to record his fourth save.
Houdek (5-3) picked up the win going 7.0 innings, allowing two runs, only one earned, on five hits whiel striking out eight. Townsend and Miller each had two hits to lead the Hilltopper offense.
The Hilltoppers will return to action Friday, May 4, to open a three-game series with Middle Tennessee at 6 p.m. (CDT).
-- WKU --
