Toppers Fall in Penultimate Contest at FIU

Friday, May 19

Miami, Fla.

6:00 PM

Western Kentucky University

16-38, 0

FIU

30-25, 0

WKU

FIU

5/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF) | Season Statistics

MIAMI, Fla. — WKU Baseball fell by a score of 6-0 at FIU on Friday evening to the Panthers. Chris Rogers and Hunter Wood each notched multi-hit games, with Rogers and Colie Currie each extending hit streaks to six consecutive contests.

Senior Kevin Elder made his first career start for the Hilltoppers after making 63 relief appearances to begin his career in Bowling Green. The righty gave up only a solo homerun through four frames of work. FIU struck for three more runs in the fifth, however, as Elder's night ended at 4.1 innings and 69 pitches with three strikeouts and no walks.

Conner Boyd came on with runners on second and third with one out, and proceeded to strike out the Panthers' No. 3 and 4 hitters to strand their teammates on the basepaths. Boyd got one out in the sixth inning before giving way to Evan Acosta, who recorded the final eight outs of the evening.

A day after becoming the first WKU player wince 2014 to hit two triples in a game, Rogers continued to swing the bat well with his fifth multi-knock game this year. In the past two games, he has improved his senior season batting average from .224 to .258.

Play of the Day
With runners on second and third as Acosta relieved Boyd in the sixth, FIU's Zach Files tried to execute a suicide squeeze but the pitcher would have none of it. Coming off the mound quickly, Acosta used only his glove to flip the ball about 15 feet to Wood at home. The Johnny Bench Award semifinalist blocked the plate and tagged out runner JC Escarra for the second out.

What's Up Next
The 2017 season finale will be Sunday, May 20 for the third game of the series against FIU. First pitch between the Hilltoppers and Panthers will be at 11 a.m. CT, when Nick MacDonald toes the rubber against the WKU lead off hitter.