May 17, 2003
New Orleans, La. - The Western Kentucky University baseball team had its six-game winning streak snapped on Saturday as it allowed four unearned runs and four home runs in a 13-8 loss to New Orleans at Maestri Field.
The Hilltoppers fall to 30-21 on the season and 11-11 in the Sun Belt Conference, while New Orleans improves to 23-31 and 7-16. The loss coupled with Florida International's 10-7 win over Arkansas State dropped Western to fifth in the Sun Belt Conference by a half game.
A solo home run by Mike Forbes off WKU starter Grady Hinchman (So., Anderson, Ind.), who fell to 5-3 on the season, with one out in the bottom of the first gave New Orleans the early lead. Forbes extended his hitting streak to 12 games with the home run.
The Privateers responded with four runs - three unearned - in the bottom of the fourth inning on two hits. New Orleans took advantage of a two-base error by Rafael Vallejo (So., The Bronx, N.Y.) in center field on fly ball by Austin Wasserman that also moved Chris Adams to third. Adams scored on a ground out by Mike Rohde, while Wasserman plated on an infield single by Justin Guy. After a single by Joe Pietro, Gabe Trevizo roped a two-out double off Hinchman scoring Wasserman and Guy. Trevizo was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.
UNO added two runs in the bottom of the fifth and three in sixth to stretch its lead to 10-3. In the fifth, Mike Nuckles led off the inning with a solo home run, while Brad Domeris walked, went to from first to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by Robinson.
Nuckles struck again in the sixth with a three-run homer off Western reliever Chris Conley (Fr., Somerset, Ky.) for a 10-3 lead. It was his fifth long ball of the season. The Hilltoppers scored four unearned runs in the top of the seventh to cut its deficit to three runs at 10-7. Brown started the inning by reaching on an infield error and scored from first on a double by designated hitter Dennis Winn (Fr., Bowling Green, Ky.). With two outs, Matt Johnston (Jr., Clarkson, Ky.) and Gunning drew walks off Jones to load the bases. An error by second baseman Justin Guy on a ball off the bat of Towns allowed Winn and Johnston to score. Gunning scored the final run on a single by to right by Grogan.
New Orleans sealed its win in the bottom of the eighth when Chris Adams hit a three-run shot to left-center field off Conley. It was the Privateers' fourth home run of the game.
The Hilltoppers and New Orleans meet in the final regular season finale for both teams at 1 p.m. (CST) Sunday.
