BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball is set to host its final midweek game of the year against Eastern Kentucky beginning at 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday, May 9 at Nick Denes Field.
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THE SCHEDULE
• WKU Baseball is set to host Eastern Kentucky for their final midweek of the season beginning at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, May 9 at Nick Denes Field.
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LAST TIME OUT
• The Hilltoppers took two of three against FIU last weekend to win their fourth consecutive conference series for the first time since 2009. With the win, WKU has now clinched a spot in the C-USA Championships for the third time in program history.
• The series opener saw the Hilltoppers fall to the Panthers, 8-1, only recording five hits in the entirety of the game while striking out 12 times.
• WKU bounced back in game two, winning 7-2, to tie the series at a game apiece. LHP Devyn Terbrak earned his third consecutive win as a starting pitcher while RHP Mason Burns earned his third save of the season in a perfect outing in the final 3.0 frames. Lukas Farris and Tristin Garcia combined for five RBI while Farris hit a two-run blast to lead the Tops over FIU in game two.
• The series finale rubber match saw a pitcher dual, allowing just four runs combined. A two-RBI double from Tristin Garcia in the sixth inning was the difference, giving the Tops the 3-1 lead and eventually leading to the game three win and the series victory. RHP Dawson Hall picked up his, team-leading, sixth win of the season, only allowing two hits through five frames and RHP Evan Jones and LHP Cam Tullar each collected a hold while RHP CJ Weins claimed his, team-leading, eighth save of the year.
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DOUBLE TIME
• Through 48 games the Hilltopper defense is top 40 in the nation and ranks second in the conference in double plays (39) and doubles hit (93).
• Three Hilltoppers are among the top 10 C-USA doubles leaders in INF Tristin Garcia (18), INF Drew Reckart (17) and OF Ty Crittenberger (13).
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TOP OF THE CHARTS
• 27 C-USA players are hitting .300 or better this season with INF Tristin Garcia (.335), INF Drew Reckart (.315) OF Ty Crittenberger (.311), and INF Aidan Gilroy (.311) all ranking amid the league's best hitters.
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MOUND MARVELS
• WKU is second in the league in saves (15), doubles allowed (67), triples allowed (6), home runs allowed (44), and opponent batting average (.246) while ranking third in ERA (4.54), hits allowed (401), and earned runs allowed (213).
• Freshman RHP Dawson Hall ranks fourth in C-USA with a 3.04 ERA while LHP Lane Diuguid ranks sixth with a 3.19 ERA and LHP Devyn Terbrak is seventh with a 3.51 ERA.
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TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
• WKU's offense currently leads all of C-USA in sacrifice bunts (52), almost doubling the next best team, UAB (27), while ranking as one of the top two teams in the nation behind Wofford (67).
• Three Hilltoppers are at the top of the list of the C-USA leaders in sacrifice bunts in Aidan Gilroy (9), Kirk Liebert (8), and AJ Fiechter (6).
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SERIES HISTORY
• WKU and Eastern Kentucky have met 142 times in program history, with the Hilltoppers owning a 77-63-2 all-time series edge.
• The sides last season in Richmond, Ky. with the Colonels taking the win, 6-4.
•Prior to last season, WKU had won the last three meetings in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
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SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
• WKU is 27-21 on the season after taking two of three against FIU last weekend in Miami, Fla.
• Offensively, six Hilltoppers are hitting .300 or better with the top half of the lineup in INF Tristin Garcia (.337), INF Drew Reckart (.315), OF Ty Crittenberger (.311), and INF Aidan Gilroy (.311) leading the charge.
• On the mound, WKU has compiled a 4.54 team ERA while striking out 394 batters in 422.2 innings of action.
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SCOUTING THE COLONELS
• Eastern Kentucky is 25-24 on the year after sweeping Queens last weekend.
• At the plate, the Colonels have two players hitting above .300, led by Miguel Larreal, who currently owns a .364 batting average.
• The Eastern Kentucky pitching staff has produced a 6.50 team ERA while recording 397 strikeouts in 428.0 frames.
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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.
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