Wood Extends Hit Streak to Eight in Loss to Rice

Friday, April 21

Nick Denes Field

2:00 PM

Western Kentucky University

12-27, 4-12

Rice

14-25, 5-11

Rice

WKU

4/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF) | Season Statistics

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Kevin Lambert had a pair of hits and reached base three times, while Hunter Wood extended his hit streak to eight games, but WKU Baseball lost to Rice by a score of 8-4 on Friday afternoon. Originally scheduled to be a doubleheader, the scheduled second game of the day was postponed.

The Hilltoppers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when Owls starter Dane Myers walked four and Wyatt Featherston hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track in center field. Rice came back with four runs in the next frame, however, sending 10 men to the plate against starter Ryan Thurston.

The lefty struck out six in 4.2 innings - his longest outing and most punch outs in the month of April - but also walked six and allowed five hits. Conner Boyd relieved Thurston and struck out the only batter he faced, pitcher Addison Moss, to end the fifth and strand two baserunners.

With Rice taking a 7-1 going into WKU half of the seventh, the Hilltoppers got some back in their run column. Colie Currie singled in Lambert with one out, then the Owls made a pitching change after Wood walked to load the bases. Thomas Peter grounded a single through the middle on the second pitch he saw from Jackson Parthasarthy, bringing home Bryson Smith and Currie to cut the deficit to three.

But that is the closest WKU would get, as Rice added a solo homerun in the next frame to push the contest to its final score of 8-4.

What's Up Next
There are two games still to be played between the Hilltoppers and Owls, but possible inclement weather looms over the next two days. Coaches and umpires will meet Saturday at 8 a.m. to determine the schedule for the rest of the weekend. Please follow @WKUBaseball on Twitter for updates.