BOWLING GREEN, Ky. A combination of solid pitching and hitting helped the WKU baseball program collect the sweep of Louisiana-Monroe on Sunday afternoon at Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers (9-2, 3-0 SBC) downed the Warhawks (6-5, 0-3) 12-2.
The Hilltoppers scored early in the first inning with Chad Cregar picking up his 13th RBI of the season. Cregar knocked in Jeremy Coleman who walked to start WKU’s bottom half.
WKU starting pitcher Shane Cameron (2-0) worked quick and efficient during the first six innings, retiring the first six Warhawk batters, including throwing only four pitches in the top of the second. ULM started the third; picking up their first base runner after Cameron surrendered a walk to Warhawk catcher Ryan McMillan. Cameron popped out Tom O’Gorman to second baseman Matt Payton and forced Kelvin York into the 6-4-3 inning ending double-play.
The Hilltoppers added two more in the bottom of the third thanks to Cregar’s second RBI of the afternoon. The left-handed batter smoked a shot back up the middle, just missing the ULM’s starting pitcher, Justin Anderson. Payton added a single with two outs that started a rally that saw WKU add the two runs. Wade Gaynor walked before Cregar knocked in Payton. Designator hitter Matt Rice added his first hit of the game that scored Gaynor to put WKU up 3-0 heading into the top of the fourth.
ULM recorded their first hit of the game in the top of the fourth with Blanchard singling up the middle past a diving Payton, however Cameron and the Hilltopper defense did not allow the runner to cross home plate. Blanchard advanced to third after a wild pitch and a passed ball before Prevost filed out to left field, Soignier grounded out to Terrance Dayleg at short and Cameron striking out Matt Collins to end the threat by ULM.
Coleman led off the bottom of the fifth with a stand-up triple in the right field corner. Coleman scored on a Payton ground out to second base. Gaynor singled through the left side of the infield before ULM’s first baseman Matt Collins robbed Cregar of an extra base hit. Gaynor advanced to third on the play. The Warhawks ended the Hilltoppers threat in the bottom half of the inning after the left-handed pitcher Anderson was pulled for Drew Graham. Graham got Rice to foul out to the left fielder.
Anderson (2-1) officially went 4.2 innings allowing four runs on seven Topper hits and two bas- on-balls.
The Toppers added another run in the bottom of the sixth after Hightower scored on attempted pickoff move by the Warhawk catcher. The error by ULM was the first of the afternoon for both squads.
Cameron was relieved of his duties in the top of the seventh finishing the contest allowing only two hits. The righty threw 6.0 innings of work with six strikeouts and zero runs.
ULM recorded their first run of the game in the top of the seventh when McMillan flied to right field and Soignier scored on the sacrifice fly. Reliever Bart Carter was able to get out of the jam, blowing the third strike past Tom O’Gorman. Carter allowed two walks in the top half.
The Toppers added five more runs in the bottom of the seventh with J.B. Paxson drilling his second home run of the season deep over the left center wall. Paxson drove in both Hightower and Logan Robbins who entered the game as a pinch runner for Rice. Payton scored earlier in the inning being knocked in by Rice. Gaynor also scored in the inning off the Hightower single.
ULM added a second run in the top of the eighth after Collins singled in Prevost. WKU pitcher Garrie Kruger ended the inning with a strikeout of a ULM batter.
Robbins ended the game due to the 10-run rule in the bottom of the eight with his first collegiate hit. Robbins doubled into left center field scoring Gaynor and Payton.
The Hilltoppers will be in action over the university spring break in the deep south, facing Southeastern Conference members Tennessee and Auburn on Tuesday and Wednesday. The game against the Volunteers is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
