Box Score (PDF)Â | Season Statistics
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Baseball was unable to even its series against visiting Southern Miss, falling by a score of 5-0 at Nick Denes Field. Starter Paul Kirkpatrick posted his third quality start of the season, but for the second time suffered a tough-luck loss as the Hilltoppers were shut out at the plate.
WKU hosted its "Vs. Cancer" event to raise money and awareness to help "Cure Kids Cancer", and the team asked Alastair Kirkpatrick - who is fighting brain cancer - to throw a ceremonial first pitch to his son, Paul, who would toe the rubber for the home team. After joining his father on the turf before the game, Kirkpatrick got out to an unbelievable start by striking out the No. 25 Golden Eagles' side in a scoreless first inning.
The Hilltoppers (9-19, 3-5) threatened in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases on a leadoff single from Kaleb Duckworth and two-out walks by Colie Currie and Nathan Methvin. The team was unable to get a run across, however, as the Southern Miss starter got a strikeout to end the threat.
Duckworth added a second base knock in the second inning, which made for his 30th career multi-hit performance. Currie later added another walk and a single, to reach in 3-of-4 plate appearances on the day. In the past 15 games, the center fielder has a hit in 14, while raising his season batting average from .213 to a team-best .324.
The Golden Eagles (23-5, 7-1) got their first run in the fourth frame on back-to-back hits from Cole Donaldson and LeeMarcus Boyd. Three innings later with the same score of 1-0, Kirkpatrick allowed a two-run homerun to Taylor Braley and was relieved by lefty Logan Weins right after.
Weins and righty Kevin Elder combined to get the final two outs of the seventh, but Elder allowed a pair of Southern Miss runs in the eighth for the game to reach 5-0. Devon Loomis pitched a scoreless ninth to keep the game at a final score of 5-0.
Topper Notes
- As a part of the "Vs. Cancer" event, WKU raised nearly $3,200 via online donations on the team's FUNDRAISING PAGE. Following the final out, 15 of the Hilltoppers' players and coaches had their heads shaved by volunteers from local McKinney's Barber Shop for the cause.
- Paul Murray, Devon Loomis, Nathan Methvin, Kevin Lambert, Bryson Smith, Wyatt Featherston, Jeff Ciocco, Marshall Smith, Bailey Sutton, Michael Hicks, Ty Megahee and Tommy Winterstein participated on Saturday. While Paul Kirkpatrick, John Pawlowski and Rob Reinstetle did on Thursday leading up to the event.
WKU hopes to avoid a series sweep Sunday, April 2 against the Golden Eagles, with first pitch at 1 p.m. at Nick Denes Field. The Golden Eagles will throw righty J.C. Keys, while the Hilltoppers' final starter remains TBA at this time.
