BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Matt Rice is one of many talented seniors on the WKU Hilltopper baseball team and is entering his fourth season on the hill.
Rice was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference first team after leading the Hilltoppers with a .369 batting average, 10 home runs and 65 RBIs in 2010. He made just two errors last season and threw out nearly 30 percent of potential base-stealers, making him a semi-finalist for the Johnny Bench Award. He also led the Hilltoppers with a .446 on-base percentage, posted a .995 fielding percentage and started all 58 games. Other totals from the season included a .585 slugging percentage, 51 runs, 89 hits, 16 doubles and three triples.
He is a versatile player who will join 19 other returners on the 2011 squad, looking to build on his individual success as a sophomore and turn it into team success a year later.
With today's spotlight WKUSports.com wraps up its series highlighting different members of the 2011 WKU Hilltopper baseball team as they prepare to open the regular season Friday against Bowling Green State at Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers finished the 2010 season with a 35-23 record and a sixth-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference.
Hilltopper Spotlight: Matt Rice, Senior, Catcher
Johnson City, TN (Science Hill HS)
Q: What is your favorite activity outside of your current sport?
A: Ping Pong
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Strawberries
Q: What was your favorite cartoon character when you were a child?
A: Scooby Doo
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: Entourage and NCIS
Q: What are your plans after your playing days are over here at WKU?
A: Play professionally
Q: What is your proudest moment in your sports career?
A: Going to Regional Championship at Ole Miss (2009)
Q: Other than WKU, who is your favorite team?
A: It's all about the Tops!
Q: What is the best movie you have ever seen?
A: Usual Suspects; Inception
Q: Who is the most influential person in your life and why?
A: My parents
