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GAME NOTES (PDF)
LIVE STATS: G1 | G2 | G3
AUDIO: G1 | G2 | G3
PENSACOLA, Fla. — WKU Baseball travels to the Gulf Coast for three neutral-site games in the Cox Diamond Invitational at Blue Wahoos Stadium. From March 1-3, the Hilltoppers will face off against North Florida, Louisiana Monroe and Tennessee; first pitch times will be Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.
This is the first round-robin, non-conference tournament for WKU since the 2016 Bulldog Invitational, where the Hilltoppers defeated Cincinnati (5-2), South Alabama (11-10) and the host Bulldogs (8-7) to take the title and improve to 7-1 in head coach John Pawlowski's first season.
SERIES HISTORIES
- WKU and North Florida have never met on the diamond.
- WKU holds an 18-12 all-time series advantage over Louisiana Monroe, with all 30 games played from 2007-14 when both teams were in the Sun Belt Conference. The Hilltoppers and Warhawks played at least one series per season, with WKU holding a 9-3 advantage in Bowling Green. The teams are tied 6-6 in Monroe, La., and 3-3 in neutral-site games, all six being meetings in the SBC Tournament.
- Tennessee holds a slim, 5-4 margin over the Hilltoppers in the all-time series. WKU is 3-0 in Bowling Green and 1-5 in Knoxville, Tenn., although the most recent meeting between the two teams was a 6-0 Hilltopper victory on March 8, 2016 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
WKU PREVIEW
- WKU vs. Murray State game recap: WEDNESDAY (W, 9-5)
- In his first career appearance on the Nick Denes Field mound, freshman Hunter Crosby pitched five innings and allowed only one run. The righty struck out three - all looking - and faced only three batters over the minimum while throwing 38-of-63 pitches for strikes.
- Crosby gave way to the bullpen with a 6-1 lead going into the sixth frame, earning his first-career win as the Hilltoppers never relinquished the lead the rest of the game. He became WKU's first freshman pitcher to start a game and earn a win while pitching five-plus innings since Ryan Thurston threw seven innings of three-run ball at Austin Peay in a 6-5 victory over the Governors on April 29, 2014.
- Another freshman, center fielder Jackson Swiney, has made every start in center field so far this season and finds himself leading qualified WKU hitters with a .360 batting average and .485 on-base percentage. The St. Louis, Mo., native also leads the team with four times hit by pitch, to go along with three walks compared to only four strikeouts.
OPPONENT PREVIEWS
- North Florida vs. Florida Atlantic game recaps: TUESDAY (W, 7-5) | WEDNESDAY (W, 9-8)
- The Ospreys, 7-3, are led by center fielder Tanner Murphy (.372/.438/.628) and second baseman Jay Prather (.385/.489/.590), who typically bat in the No. 3 and 4 spots in the lineup, respectively. On the mound Friday night will be senior righty Brad Deppermann, who sports a 2.38 earned run average in 11.1 innings pitched across two starts, with nine hits allowed and 10 strikeouts. North Florida comes off a two-game midweek sweep of the Owls, a common Conference USA opponent for WKU.
- Louisiana Monroe at Northwestern State game recap: TUESDAY (L, 0-15)
- The Warhawks, 3-4, are led by right fielder Trent Tingelstad (.348/.545/.652) and first baseman Cameron Horton (.381/.536/.476), who typically bat in the No. 2 and 4 spots in the lineup, respectively. On the mound Saturday morning will be senior lefty Trey Jeans, who has a 5.40 earned run average and an 0-2 record in a pair of starts. He has pitched 6.2 innings and allowed four hits and issued five walks, to go along with seven strikeouts.
- Tennessee vs. Middle Tennessee game recap: WEDNESDAY (W, 2-0)
- The Volunteers, 9-0, have outscored their opponents 59-to-5 so far this season. Of the five runs allowed by the Tennessee pitching staff, four have come via solo homerun and one was an unearned tally. The Volunteers have a 0.44 team earned run average, striking out 103 in 81 innings. On the mound Sunday morning will be senior righty Will Neely, who sports a 1.86 earned run average and a 1-0 record in two starts. He has allowed nine hits and struck out seven in 9.2 frames.
ABOUT BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM
- Entering its sixth season, Blue Wahoos Stadium is considered one of the most premier facilities in Minor League Baseball, with a seating capacity of 5,038. For five straight years, the Blue Wahoos have welcomed over 300,000 fans a year. The stadium also provides one of the best views in sports, with the scenic Pensacola Bay beyond the outfield walls, creating a unique backdrop.
- It did not take long for the bayfront stadium to begin receiving accolades, with www.BaseballParks.com naming the facility its 2012 Ballpark of the Year, which included facilities within the entire realm of baseball, including the Major Leagues. The stadium beat out new stadiums such as the Miami Marlins' new park, as well as the Boston Red Sox new spring training facility in Fort Myers.
- Hilltopper fans who plan to make the trip to Pensacola can purchase tickets HERE.
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