Eastern Kentucky Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
May 13, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University baseball team will finish its 2002 non-conference schedule this week, as it hosts Kentucky Tuesday in a 6 p.m. (CDT) contest before traveling to Eastern Kentucky Wednesday in a 2 p.m. start. Tuesday's game is designated Fan Appreciation Night, in which fans will receive a free hot dog and fountain drink with the purchase of admission courtesy of Aramark -- WKU's concession provider.
The Hilltoppers (33-16) went 1-3 last week, including a 9-10 heartbreaking loss at Vanderbilt on May 7 in which WKU left a season-high 17 runners on base, and a 1-2 series loss to New Mexico State at home (May 11-12). In game one versus NMSU, Western used a season-high 11-run eighth inning to blast the Aggies, 15-1, while Ryan Bicondoa (Sr., Lovelock, Nev.) allowed just one run in 8.0 innings to claim his eighth-straight win. NMSU bounced back with an 0-2 victory in game two -- the first time WKU has been shutout this year -- and followed with a series-clinching 4-2 triumph in the rubber match.
Kentucky (17-32) enters Tuesday's contest after dropping two of three at Vanderbilt last weekend (May 10-12). The Wildcats were held to just three hits in a 1-3 loss in game one, but bounced back to pound VU on Saturday, 19-7. UK fell in game three, though, 3-17.
The Hilltoppers traveled to Lexington on April 17 and claimed a 5-1 win behind 13 strikeouts by Bicondoa in the season's first meeting between the two school's. UK leads the all-time series, 26-15-0.
Eastern Kentucky (14-34) is on a seven-game losing streak, including a pair of losses to Austin Peay on May 11. The Colonels will try to snap the skid Tuesday at Wright State before hosting the Hilltoppers Wednesday.
WKU leads the season series, 1-0, after earning a 3-2 victory over EKU at Nick Denes Field on March 12. The Hilltoppers also lead the all-time series, 63-53-2.
