BOCA RATON, Fla. — A nine-run bottom of the second flipped the momentum on Friday night, as WKU Baseball lost to Florida Atlantic by a score of 15-2 in the series opener.
Steven Kraft led the way with three base knocks, while Nick Brunson and Colie Currie each had multi-hit efforts for the Hilltoppers. Jacob Rhinesmith hit his 14th homerun of the season in the ninth inning, a solo shot.
Luke Brown led off the game with a single up the middle and scored on a Rhinesmith infield hit to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead. However, WKU stranded a pair of runners in the first and left the bases loaded in the second with a chance to add more.
Starter Ryan Thurston pitched a scoreless first frame with a pair of strikeouts, increasing his career total to 299 on The Hill.
But in the second, with a pair of Owls in scoring position with two out, Thurston threw a wild pitch to score the tying run, then the hosts would go on to score eight more times in the inning. A grand slam by David Miranda was the big hit, as FAU took a 9-1 lead to the top of the third.
The Owls added six more in their final six tries, ending up with six homeruns and three doubles in the game. Each of WKU's first 10 hits before the ninth-inning long ball were singles.
Malcolm Grady was a highlight of the Hilltopper pitching staff, pitching three scoreless - and hitless -Â innings. Kevin Lambert ended the sixth frame with a 6-3 double play, while Kraft wrapped up the seventh with a ranging diving play on a ground ball and throw to first baseman Tyler Robertson.
Up Next
As of now, WKU and FAU are scheduled to play Game 2 of the series on Friday night, tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. CT. With swirling weather patterns on the East Coast, stay tuned for potential updates.
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
