March 28, 2003
Miami, Fla. - The Western Kentucky baseball team came out on the short end of seesaw battle with Sun Belt Conference foe Florida International Friday night at Florida International Field in Miami. One or both of the teams scored in every inning, but the eighth in the wacky game.
Trailing 7-6, WKU took the lead with two runs in the top of the sixth and extended its lead to 9-7 in the seventh, but three runs in the bottom of the seventh by the hosts put the Toppers down 10-9. The loss drops Western to 13-9 and 2-2 in the conference and FIU improves to 24-8 and 3-1 in the Sun Belt.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Golden Panthers got a leadoff single from Bryan Pullin. Pullin scored on a double to center off Adam Prida (Jr., Tampa, Fla.) by Adam Summerell. After a pitch hit Ricardo Nanita and Skipton Adams singled, Fernando Alvarez roped a run scoring double to tie the game at nine. Adams scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch by Prida, who fell to 1-1.
The Toppers threatened to score again in the eighth and ninth. In the eighth, Tim Grogan (Fr., Villa Hills, Ky.) walked and Antone Towns (So., Louisville, Ky.) was hit by a pitch. Grogan moved to third on a fly ball to center for the second out, but was left stranded. In the ninth, Matt Ransdell (Fr., Bowling Green, Ky.) reached on a pinch-hit single with one out. Ransdell was safe at second on an error on the second baseman on a fielder's choice by Matt Johnston (Jr., Clarkson, Ky.). The runners got no closer as Derek Taylor, who improved to 5-0, struck out Matt Gunning (Jr., Victoria, B.C.) and Grogan grounded out ending the game.
In the sixth, Towns and Brent Miller (So., Muncie, Ind.) reached on singles. The duo crossed the plate as David Lower (Sr., Anderson, Ind.) roped a double with two outs. Western struck in the seventh when Kevin Bearden (Sr., Tallahassee, Fla.) scored on a balk after doubling. Bearden moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rafael Vallejo (So., The Bronx, N.Y).
The Hilltoppers and FIU each scored two runs in each of their first two trips to the plate. Western took the lead with two runs in the top of the third for a 6-4 advantage when Miller broke the tie with home run to center. Brown followed with a single and later scored on an RBI by Johnston. After scoring a run in the fourth, the Golden Panthers took a 7-6 lead with two unearned runs in the fifth.
For the night, Western pounded out 15 hits. Miller finished 4-for-5 with a home run, two steals, two runs scored and an RBI. Bearden added three hits, while Johnston and Towns each had two hits. J.C. Faircloth (So., Jacksonville, Fla.) started the game and tossed five innings. He allowed seven runs - five earned - on seven hits.
The two teams meet on Saturday at 1 p.m. with the finale Sunday at 1 p.m. Both times are Eastern. - WKU -
