Middle Tennessee Game Notes
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April 11, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University baseball team travels to Murfreesboro, Tenn. to face Middle Tennessee in an important Sun Belt Conference series, beginning Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) at Reese Smith Field. The Hilltoppers (23-8, 6-2 Sun Belt) and Blue Raiders (20-13, 2-4 Sun Belt) will battle again Saturday in a 2 p.m. start before concluding the three-game set Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m.
Western enters the series after earning a hard fought, 10-9 triumph over Louisville Tuesday at home, as the Toppers rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth for their first win over the Cardinals in their last seven tries. Nick Turner (Sr., Louisville, Ky.) hit the game-winner, lifting a single to left to score Rafael Vallejo (Fr., The Bronx, N.Y.) with the bases loaded, extending WKU's winning streak to a season-long eight games. Last weekend, the Hilltoppers swept Sun Belt foe Florida International to improve to 6-2 in league play. Ryan Bicondoa (Sr., Lovelock, Nev.) was named SBC Pitcher of the Week Monday for his 14-strikeout performance in Western's 8-2 win over the Golden Panthers (April 5).
MTSU looks to regain form after losing seven of its last nine contests entering the series. The Blue Raiders battled East Tennessee twice this week, dropping a 3-16 decision Tuesday before returning the favor in a 12-3 victory Wednesday. Last weekend, Middle Tennessee dropped two of three at New Mexico State to fall to 2-4 in the SBC.
The Hilltoppers and Blue Raiders met last season in a three-game set at Nick Denes Field, with MTSU claiming a 2-1 series victory. The Blue Raiders were triumphant in each of the first two games, posting a pair of 5-1 and 10-4 wins, but were unable to complete the sweep as the Hilltoppers rebounded to shutout MTSU in the finale, 1-0.
WKU leads the all-time series, 92-80-2.
