BOWLING GREEN, Ky. In wrapping up fall workouts, the Western Kentucky University baseball program held its annual "Fall World Series" over the weekend. After the Black team claimed game one 9-2, the Red team forced the rubber game with a victory in game two. "Team Black" got home runs by Wade Gaynor and Terrence Dayleg to claim the finale.
WKU is coming off its second overall Sun Belt Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five seasons. They will try and become the league’s first repeat winners of the Sun Belt Tournament since South Alabama in 2000-01 when the 2009 edition takes place on May 20-23 in Troy, Ala.
Returning 12 of 14 position players and nine of their top 12 arms, the 2009 Hilltoppers are preparing for a run at the program’s first-ever SBC regular season crown. Senior outfielder Chad Cregar, a Second-Team All-American in 2008, hit .360 and slugged .680 with 21 home runs, driving in a school record 82 RBI. Wade Gaynor, Matt Ridings, and Jake Wells join Cregar as returning All-Conference performers while Wells earned SBC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors for WKU last year.
In last year’s home finale, the Hilltoppers welcomed over 3,000 fans to the "Nick" to watch WKU battle the University of Kentucky, capping off a record setting season for attendance.
WKU will kick off its challenging 56-game, 2009 slate on Friday, February 20 by hosting Toledo at 3:00 PM.
