BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball used a two-inning offensive outburst to earn a 6-2 victory over Valpo in game two of their series Sunday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.
The win moves the Hilltoppers to 2-0 on the year following their season-opening 9-3 victory against the Crusaders on Saturday.
Valpo jumped out to an early advantage in today's matchup, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The score remained the same until the fifth frame, with the Hilltoppers scoring two runs and tacking on four more in the sixth inning to gain a 6-1 lead and take control of the contest.
"We gave up a run in the first inning and then had to do some damage control," said head coach John Pawlowski. "We had to make some really big pitches. [Sean] Bergeron got out of the fourth inning with the bases loaded using back-to-back punch outs. [Dalton] Shoemake also did an outstanding job.
"But give credit to our offense too. It wasn't easy for us today, but we finally had an inning where we could put a little pressure on them. [Kevin] Lambert and [Ray] Zuberer came up with some big swings today and we just found a way to win."
Sean Bergeron, a transfer from Angelina College, earned the start on the mound in his first appearance as a Hilltopper. The junior allowed just three hits and one run while striking out a pair in 4.0 innings of action.
Dalton Shoemake entered the game in the fifth frame in relief of Bergeron, fanning three batters while surrendering just three hits and one run (unearned) in 4.0 innings of work. Jake Kates, a transfer from Gulf Coast State College, closed things out in the ninth while striking out a pair and not allowing a hit.
Offensively, the squad collected five hits and six walks on the day. Ray Zuberer III led the way with a 2-for-5 outing while adding two RBI, while Kevin Lambert produced a 1-for-3 performance to go along with two runs and two RBI. Richard Constantine and Matt Phipps also recorded one hit apiece in the matchup.
The Hilltoppers found a majority of their plate production at the bottom of the lineup, with their six through eight hitters (Phipps, Sam McElreath, Lambert) accounting for two of the team's five hits and five of the team's six runs.
"The good thing about having seniors in the lineup is that we have so many of them and the guys at the bottom of the lineup, they've been here for a while, and they put good swings on balls and they always have," said Zuberer. "Kevin [Lambert] had a huge game today, [Matt] Phipps, everybody – we couldn't have done it without them for sure."
SCORING SUMMARY
Valpo opened the scoring in the first frame, with a runner advancing home from third on a wild pitch.
The Hilltoppers took the lead in the fifth, with Lambert roping an RBI-double to score McElreath and advancing home on a throwing error by the catcher in the same play.
WKU extended its lead in the sixth inning, with bases-loaded walks by Lambert and Jack Wilson putting the score at 4-1. Zuberer then used a two-RBI single up the middle to plate McElreath and Lambert, making it 6-1.
The Crusaders added their second run of the game in the eighth via a sac fly, but were held scoreless from there.
UP NEXT
The Hilltoppers will close out their series against Valpo at 1 p.m. CT on Monday, Feb. 17 at Nick Denes Field.
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- 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
