Game Notes (PDF)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Coming off four consecutive games against ranked opponents, it does not get any easier this weekend for WKU Baseball. The Hilltoppers host Marshall for a Friday-to-Sunday three-game set from April 13-15 at Nick Denes Field, with all three contests to be streamed on CUSA.tv.
Series History
The Thundering Herd leads the all-time series against WKU, 12-9, including an 8-1 mark in Conference USA play over the past three years. Going into the 2015 season, the Hilltoppers had gone 8-4 against Marshall in 12 games played from 1992-99.
Marshall has swept WKU in back-to-back series; in Bowling Green in 2016 and in West Virginia in 2017. Last year's set was supposed to be played at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, but with questionable weather patterns it was moved to Kennedy Center Field at a YMCA recreation location in Huntington.
The first two games were one-run decisions, with the Hilltoppers falling by scores of 3-2 and 10-9. The Thundering Herd then held the Hilltoppers to three hits in an 8-0 win on Sunday.
In Game 1, starter Ryan Thurston went a season-high eight innings as WKU and Marshall entered the ninth inning tied 2-2. The lefty was lifted in the ninth after allowing a leadoff double and walk, then reliever Jackson Sowell allowed a walk-off single to catcher Reynaldo Pastrana in the 3-2 defeat.
In Game 2, catcher Hunter Wood went 3-for-4 with four RBI and right fielder Thomas Peter went 3-for-5 with a homerun. Wood became the second player in Division I in 2017 to homer from both sides of the plate, including a two-run shot as a righty in the eighth inning to make it a one-run game. But still, WKU fell just shy in a 10-9 final.
Series Preview
Although the Thundering Herd was swept in a home-and-home by Virginia Tech (L, 11-3 in Blacksburg and L, 11-9 in Charleston) in midweek, they swept C-USA foe Middle Tennessee on the road the weekend prior. For the season, Marshall stands at 14-15, including a 4-8 record in league play.
The visitors are expected to go with the same starting rotation that swept the Blue Raiders last weekend in righty Brad O'Connor, lefty Joshua Shapiro and righty Zac McNeel. That trio earned all three wins in the series, allowing only four earned runs in 20.2 innings.
At the plate, right fielder Shane Hanon leads the club with a .358/.456/.462 slash line, and three of his five extra-base hits on the season have come in the past week. The returning backstop, Pastrana, is a power threat with a team-high .525 slugging percentage. His 15 extra-base hits and 28 RBI lead the Thundering Herd bats.
Defensively, the Thundering Herd pitchers and catchers have slowed down opponents' run games, allowing only 10 stolen bases on 17 attempts. However, Marshall ranks 11th in C-USA with a .960 fielding percentage, with 42 errors in 29 games.
The Hilltoppers' probable starters in the game notes reflects previous series. WKU's weekend rotation remains TBA at this time.
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- Big Red
- CLIMB Program - NIL
- Compliance
- Facilities
- Financial Reports
- For Students
- Student Employment
- Forms/Requests
- Book Big Red
- Donation Requests
- Site Feedback
- For Fans
- Hilltopper Highlights
- Gameday Promotions
- Alumni Tailgates
- Big Red's Rascals
- Basketball Gameday
- Football Gameday
- Mobile Tickets
- Travel Center
- Tickets
- Give
