Earlier this week, WKUSports.com began its countdown to first pitch with a breakdown of the pitching staff, which can be read HERE. Today we take a look at the Hilltopper infield, which head coach Matt Myers believes is WKU's most athletic group since 2009. The third part of the three-part series detailing the outfield will be posted on Friday, which marks a week before WKU's season-opener against No. 14 Maryland in Myrtle Beach.
Infield
No position group returns more experience for the Tops than the infielders, who bring back 165 combined starts between four players from a 2014 unit that turned 50 double plays. Senior shortstop Cody Wofford and senior first baseman Ryan Church return after stellar first seasons on The Hill while utility infielders Thomas Peter and Leiff Clarkson are also back for 2015. Wofford, who slugged. 462 and drove in 26 RBI from his leadoff position last year, anchors the Hilltopper at infield with his strong arm and tremendous range. Church was a Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection at first base in 2014 after leading WKU with 38 RBI, 21 multiple-hit games, seven home runs, 102 total bases and a .371 batting average with runners in scoring position.
Newcomer Danny Hudzina, who played with Church in junior college at Palm Beach State, is expected to make major contributions at third base this year while Peter and Clarkson will bolster depth on the hot corner and second base. Peter made 59 starts at third base over his first two seasons and Clarkson made 38 starts on the left side of the infield in 2014 while relieving Wofford and Peter for injuries at different points in the year. Clarkson came on strong in relief and became a mainstay in the lineup, finishing his rookie campaign with 42 hits and a .316 average.
Redshirt senior catcher Ryan Messex was a 2014 Johhny Bench Watch List member and provides the Hilltoppers with one of the strongest catch-and-throw arms in the country. Messex gunned down 19 runners trying to steal last season and picked off four others. He proved to be one of the most disciplined hitters in the nation as a junior, striking out just 11 times in 158 at bats - a mark that ranked second in the SBC and 53rd nationally.
Sophomore catchers Hunter Wood and Ty Hogan provide depth behind Messex. Wood will also be in contention for starts at designated hitter as he pounded out 15 RBI on 14 hits in 57 at bats as a rookie. The Hilltoppers did lose utility infielder Scott Wilcox (234 career hits, 199 career starts) to graduation but have experience, talent and four newcomers to help fill the void.
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