Feb. 4, 2014
Part 1 - Meet The 2014 Newcomers
Pitching has been the hallmark of the WKU Baseball program since head coach Matt Myers arrived on the Hill as the pitching coach in 2008, with the Hilltopper arms combining to sport a 4.77 ERA over the past six seasons.
WKU has boasted a sub 5.00 ERA in each of the past four seasons and a sub 4.50 ERA in three of the past four seasons. The Hilltoppers led the Sun Belt Conference in strikeouts looking during both the 2012 and 2013 seasons, striking out a combined 334 batters looking in the first two seasons of the Myers Era.
Assistant coach Blake Allen takes over the pitching coach reins in 2014 and has been pleased with the development of the WKU pitchers during the fall and spring. Despite having just two pitchers with more than three career starts under their belts (Justin Hageman and Austin Clay), Allen and Myers both believe they have a number of quality arms at their disposal.
"We've got a lot of depth and that's obviously a good thing," said Allen. "There's going to be a constant battle figuring out who we are going to take on the road with us because right now I would have a hard time leaving any of them behind."
Seniors Justin Hageman (33 starts, 217.0 IP, 175K in three seasons) and Austin Clay (17 starts, 148.0 IP, 94 strikeouts in 2012-13 seasons) are WKU's most experienced pitchers and will compete for spots in the starting rotation. WKU also brings back senior RHP Jake Thompson, who saw success in starting and relief roles in 2013.
From a relief standpoint it will be junior Ian Tompkins taking on the role of closer for the Hilltoppers in 2014. Tompkins shared closing duties with departed senior Taylor Haydel last season and led WKU with a 2.29 ERA, striking out 59 batters and limiting hitters to a .143 average at the plate in 35.1 innings.
Some new faces on the pitching staff include Wabash Valley transfer Brandon Allen and a quartet of freshmen in Cody Coll, Sam Higgs, Sam Melchior and Ryan Thurston.
"We have a bunch of solid guys who are really buying in and competing," said Myers. "We just have a lot of kids that no one really knows about, but that doesn't mean they don't have good arms."
Listed below are the WKU pitchers for the 2014 season
Brandon Allen RHP: Won six games, boasted 3.41 ERA in 60.2 IP during sophomore season at Wabash Valley.
Josh Bartley RHP: Led rookies with 19 appearances in 2013, including a pair of wins over Top 10 teams Kentucky and Louisville.
Austin Clay LHP: 56 strikeouts compared to 18 walks in 73.2 innings of starting and relief work last season.
Cody Coll RHP: Top pitcher for back-to-back 30-win teams at Neuqua Valley High School.
Tate Glasscock RHP: Held five opponents scoreless and four hitless in nine appearances during his injury shortened season.
Justin Hageman RHP: Surrendered nine earned runs and struck out 25 in his final five starts of 2013, last at least five innings in all five outings.
Sam Higgs RHP: Two-time All-State selection at Henderson County High School. He struck out 76 batters compared to six walks in 72.0 IP as a senior.
Sam Melchior RHP: Second-Team All-State as a senior at St. Xavier High School, boasting a 1.58 ERA in 52 innings of work.
Alex Mercer RHP: Held opponents scoreless in nine of his 11 appearances as a freshman in 2013.
Brennan Pearson RHP: 2-0 with 2.62 ERA in 16 relief appearances in 2013.
Jackson Sowell RHP: Struck out 19 batters in 13.2 innings as a freshman.
Jake Thompson RHP: Struck out 30 and sported 3.13 ERA in 18 appearances in 2013.
Ryan Thurston LHP: Three-time All-Conference selection at Madison High School.
Ian Tompkins LHP: Four wins, four saves, 59 strikeouts and 2.29 ERA in relief last season.
