WKU (17-9, 6-1 Sun Belt Conference) scored 11 runs in the first four innings against UALR (11-14, 2-5), breaking open the game with five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Right fielder Ryan Hutchison finished 3-for-6 with three RBIs, while center fielder Kes Carter ended up 4-for-5 with a pair of RBIs. Third baseman Casey Dykes also drove in a pair of runs.
Perkins (6-1) shut out the Trojans on four hits through seven innings with one walk and eight strikeouts. He retired the first six batters he faced and did not allow a runner to advance into scoring position. Freshman right-hander Brian Doering allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout in the final two innings.
Senior catcher Matt Rice reached base in his first four plate appearances and came around to score each time. Rice tallied a single and a double.
WKU took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Hutchison and a two-run single by Dkyes.
The Hilltoppers added three more runs in the top of the second to make the score 6-0. Two of the three runs scored on a double by Carter, and a throwing error produced the third run.
A grand slam by Bullard highlighted WKU's five-run fourth inning, which extended the lead to 11-0. Hutchison drove in the first run of the inning with an RBI single.
WKU added a run in the fifth on an RBI double by Hutchison and two more in the eighth on back-to-back RBIs doubles by Bullard and shortstop Scott Wilcox.
The Trojans scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the eighth.
The WKU offense tagged Trojans starter Garret Graziano (2-5) for six runs - five earned - on four hits with six walks and three strikeouts in three innings. Right-hander Daniel Golden gave up six runs on seven hits in two innings.
The two teams will return to action in the second game of the series Saturday at 4 p.m. WKU will send freshman right-hander Justin Hageman (4-3, 3.00 ERA) against UALR right-hander Travis Henke (1-1, 2.96).
