Hilltoppers Sweep Doubleheader on Saturday for Best Start Since 1985

Saturday, February 25

Bowling Green, KY

1:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

Ohio

Hilltoppers Sweep Doubleheader on Saturday for Best Start Since 1985

2/25/2023 10:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (Game 1)Box Score (Game 2)Photo Gallery

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball swept its Saturday doubleheader against the Ohio Bobcats on Saturday at Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers win seven games in a row for the first time since 2011 and start a season 7-0 for the first time since 1985.

The Hilltoppers won game one, 9-6, in seven innings, before taking victory in game two, 9-8, coming back from an 8-2 deficit in the third inning.

"After the first game, at least we know in a four-game series that we were going to tie it, so the idea was to hopefully get that third one," said head coach Marc Rardin. "How hard it is to win doubleheaders is really hard to explain. We tried to give it away and they did a great job coming out aggressive. They were putting balls in play, and we got an outfield error. We kind of lost a little bit of our momentum from the first game, but then all of a sudden, the relievers come in and puts some zeros up the next few innings, and that whole time we are just chipping away. I have always said, if something is going to happen to us and it is going to be drastic, we want it to happen early in the game, so we have a lot of time to work back."

Game One Recap

LHP Lane Diuguid made his second start of the season on the rubber. The junior recorded five strikeouts in four innings of work, while giving up two runs on four hits and two walks. Freshman Evan Jones relieved Diuguid at the start of the fifth inning recording a strikeout, while not allowing a single run or hit in one inning and earning his second collegiate victory in just as many appearances. Cole Heath made his second appearance of the season, taking the mound for the final two innings. The redshirt sophomore claimed two strikeouts, while surrendering four runs on four hits with no walks.

At the plate, WKU racked up, 13 hits, with four Hilltoppers producing multi-hit efforts. Brett Blomquist had the only Hilltopper home run of the contest to the left foul pole. The sophomore went 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run on the day after subbing in halfway through the game. Ty Batusich and Drew Reckart each recorded two hits in three at-bats, each with an RBI and a walk of their own, as well as Batusich reaching home plate three times.

SCORING SUMMARY

The Tops kicked off the scoring with Drew Reckart crossing home plate on a fielding miscue from the Bobcats in the second inning.

In the third, Ty Batusich and Camden Ross combined for three RBI, both with singles to make the score 4-0.

The Bobcats hit a two-run home run to cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the fourth.

More miscues from Ohio led to the Hilltoppers adding three more in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth, Brett Blomquist blasted a home run to the left foul pole to extend the lead to 7-2.

The Bobcats edged back, scoring two in the sixth, cutting the WKU lead to three.

Another Ohio error helped the Tops score two more putting the lead at 9-4.

The Bobcats attempted to make a big comeback in the seventh, but only managed to plate two more runs, making the final tally, 9-6.

Game Two Recap

LHP Cam Tullar made his WKU starting debut on the rubber and his second appearance of the season. Tullar struck out the side in the first inning before surrendering six runs on six hits in the second. Jack Bennett, Nic Schutte, and CJ Weins saw relief action in game two, with Schutte picking up the first collegiate win of his career. The freshman duo of Bennett and Schutte combined for four strikeouts in 6.1 innings, while surrendering two runs only coming in the third inning. Weins earned his second save of the season in the final frame with one strikeout, while not allowing either a hit or walk to secure the win. The relief staff held the Bobcats scoreless in the final six frames to help the Tops in the 9-8 comeback victory.

At the dish, WKU compiled 13 hits for the second straight game, with four Hilltoppers producing multi-hit efforts. Both Tristin Garcia and Aidan Gilroy went 3-for-4 with two RBI a piece, while Drew Reckart added two RBI of his own on a 2-for-5 performance. Ty Crittenberger knocked two doubles in game two, giving him three in total on the day. The Hilltoppers totaled just five walks on the day with most coming late in the eighth inning when the Tops drew three straight to load the bases and cross two runs to take its first lead of the game, ultimately leading to the win.

SCORING SUMMARY

The Bobcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second, its largest lead in the series.

The Hilltoppers would inch closer and closer, responding with two runs in the bottom of the second off a wild pitch and an RBI single from Brett Blomquist.

Ohio fired back, taking an 8-2 lead after adding two more in the third inning.

A two-RBI double from Reckart in the third inning cut the lead to 8-4.

Gilroy tacked on another run after he doubled and scored Batusich, making the deficit just three.

Garcia and Gilroy each had an RBI in the seventh, cutting the lead to 8-7.

Three straight walks in the eighth inning scored two runs for the Tops, putting them in front, 9-8.

UP NEXT

The Hilltoppers will conclude its four-game series at home against the Ohio Bobcats on Sunday, Feb. 26 beginning at 1 p.m. CT.

How to follow WKU Baseball: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Baseball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Baseball on Twitter and @WKUBaseball Instagram.