WKU Drops High Scoring Series Opener to No. 23 Old Dominion

Friday, May 14

Norfolk, VA

2:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

24-25, 14-15

Old Dominion

34-13, 20-9

WKU

OLD DOMINION

Photo by: Chris Kohley/WKU Athletics

5/14/2021 7:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats

NORFOLK, Va. – WKU Baseball dropped a high-scoring contest to No. 23 Old Dominion, 14-8, in its series opener on Friday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.

After falling into an early 6-0 hole through three innings, the Hilltoppers racked up eight runs over the next three frames to put the game at 9-8 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but the Monarchs answered back with five runs throughout the rest of the contest to close things out.

"I liked the way we competed," said head coach John Pawlowski. "We were down, but they kept giving us quality at-bats and our kids kept battling and we got ourselves within striking distance. But, against good teams you have to execute, and they got some balls and they didn't miss them. There's a reason why they lead the conference in a large number of categories."

WKU utilized four pitchers in the matchup, with the group combining to allow 14 runs while recording two strikeouts in 8.0 innings.

At the plate, the Hilltoppers racked up 12 hits and six walks, with three players producing multi-hit performances in the contest. Jackson Gray led the way, hitting 3-for-5 to go along with one run, while Kevin Lambert and Ray Zuberer III each added two hits apiece.

SCORING SUMMARY

Old Dominion took an early lead following an RBI-groundout to second base in the first frame.

The Monarchs then racked up five runs in the third inning to jump out to a 6-0 advantage.

WKU scored its first runs of the game in the fourth frame, with Matt Phipps sending a two-run shot over the left field wall.

The Hilltoppers continued to cut into Old Dominion's lead in the fifth frame, with Lambert recording an RBI-single and Richard Constantine scoring from third on a wild pitch to make it 6-4.

Old Dominion answered back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to extend their lead and put the score at 9-4.

WKU kept its hot bats going in the sixth inning, with Constantine sending a two-RBI triple to right field before an RBI-single by Matthew Meyer and RBI-double by Lambert made it just a one-run game at 9-8.

The Monarchs again answered back in the bottom of the inning, racking up four runs of their own to put the score at 13-8.

Old Dominion added its final run of the contest in the eighth off a solo shot to left field, leading to the eventual 14-8 win.

UP NEXT
The Hilltoppers will continue their series against No. 23 Old Dominion with a seven-inning doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 15 at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.