WKU sweeps Salukis in Sunday's doubleheader

Sunday, February 16

Bowling Green, Ky.

11:00 AM

Southern Illinois University

1-1

Western Kentucky

1-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southern Illinois	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	8	1
WKU	1	0	3	0	1	0	1	0	X	6	12	1

02/16/2014 | 12:00:00 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 16, 2014

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Photo Gallery

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - After starting the day with a four-run first inning, Southern Illinois managed just one run in the remaining 17 innings as Western Kentucky swept Sunday's doubleheader at Nick Denes Field to take two of three games from SIU in the season-opening series. WKU won the first game, 6-4, and won the series finale, 6-1.

"We just didn't have a good day on offense," SIU Coach Ken Henderson said. "We didn't have a good approach. It's opening weekend, and I think guys were a little antsy at the plate, trying to do too much."

In the first game, the Hilltoppers took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Scott Wilcox broke a 4-4 tie with a solo home run. It was WKU's third home run of the day off Saluki senior Todd Eaton, who made his first start since his freshman year.

WKU had tied the game at 4-4 with three runs in the bottom of the third. Cody Wofford led off the inning with his second solo home run of the day. After Wilcox walked and Ryan Church singled, Wilcox scored on Philip Diedrick's sacrifice fly, and Thomas Peter tied the game with a two-out single up the middle.

Eaton took the loss. He allowed five runs off seven hits in five innings of work. All three home runs against him were solo shots, including two by Wofford who hit one on Eaton's first pitch of the game.

"Todd struggled getting his off-speed pitches in the zone," Henderson said. "He didn't have his best stuff, but I still think he's going to do a good job for us in that spot. He just didn't have a great day today."

Southern jumped all over WKU starter Austin Clay in the first inning with four runs off of four hits. The first three batters of the game reached base. Jake Welch singled and scored on Matt Jones' RBI single, and Parker Osborne walked and scored on Ryan Casillas' run-scoring groundout. Donny Duschinsky put an exclamation point on the rally with a two-run homer to left field.

"I was just looking for something to drive," Duschinsky said. "He hung one over the plate, and I was able to put a good swing on it. Unfortunately we weren't able to keep that momentum going."

After the first-inning explosion, Southern managed just two hits against Clay the rest of the way. He went five and a third innings and earned the victory.

"We were fortunate to get to him early," Henderson said. "Then he settled in and started making pretty good pitches. I think you have to tip your cap to him."

The bullpen kept the Salukis in the game. Matt Murphy pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing one run. Jacob Williams pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Hilltoppers broke the second game open with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Church led off the inning with a home run to give WKU a 2-0 lead. After Thomas Peter bunted himself aboard, the next two batters reached with the assistance of a Saluki infield error, the second miscue scoring Peter. Two more unearned runs crossed the plate that inning. Wilcox's RBI single extended the lead to 5-0 and knocked SIU starter Aaron Hauge out of the game with two outs in the inning.

Hauge was making his Saluki debut after transferring to SIU last school year and taking a redshirt. He took the loss. Hauge allowed five runs in three and two-thirds innings, but only two of the runs against him were earned. The lefty also allowed a run in the first inning when he surrendered three consecutive singles after retiring the first two batters relatively easily.

"He has to finish hitters off, and he needs to finish innings off," Henderson said. "That was the first time he's thrown a college game in almost two years. He'll be fine. He has good stuff. He just has to execute pitches a little better."

SIU was held hitless through the first four innings of the game before breaking through with a run in the top of the fifth, in what had the potential to be a big inning. J.C. DeMuri led off the inning with a single to left field. A hit batsman and a walk loaded the bases and knocked starter Jake Thompson out of the game with one out.

After reliever Jackson Sowell struck out Connor Kopach, Matt Jones reached on an infield single to score DeMuri. However, when the throw to first base went wide, WKU first baseman Ryan Church recovered and threw out Will Farmer, who was trying to score from second base, to end the inning.

The Saluki bullpen was impressive in the series finale as well. Three freshmen, Kyle Pauly, Austin McPheron and Kyle Pruemer, combined to throw four and a third innings, allowing just one unearned run off one hit. Each pitcher was making his collegiate debut.

For the weekend, the pen tossed 13 and a third innings and only allowed one earned run.

"Our bullpen was good all weekend," Henderson said. "We gave up one earned run all weekend, so I'm very encouraged by what I saw."

Despite the early setback, Henderson remains optimistic about the season.

"We just made too many mistakes," Henderson said. "Overall, it's not what we want, and it's not what we expect. We have some things to work on, but I still think we're still going to be a good club."