Baseball Opens 2009 Season at Western Kentucky

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Bowling Green, Ky. – Junior third baseman Wade Gaynor went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI to lead Western Kentucky to an 11-0 win over UAlbany in the Great Danes’ 2009 season opener at Nick Denes Field on Friday afternoon. The seven-inning game was part of a doubleheader moved to Friday due to impending weather.

The Hilltoppers scored runs in all but one inning. WKU tallied single runs in the first and second and added two in the third. All four runs were unearned off UAlbany starter Josh Willimott, who struck out five in his four innings of work. Willimott held the Hilltoppers hitless in the fourth frame, striking out his final batter faced to end his first outing of the season.

WKU added three runs in the bottom half of the fifth. The Hilltoppers started the rally as UAlbany reliever Ryan White hit senior outfielder Matt Hightower with a pitch. Hightower, who stole second and third, was driven home along with Chad Crager on a two-RBI single by Gaynor. Gaynor, who advanced to second on a throw to home after his single, stole third and scored on a single to right by Jared Andreoli. Freshman Travis Wilson, who relieved White on the mound, got Jeremy Coleman looking and induced a fly out to end the inning.

The Hilltoppers then exploded for four runs in the sixth inning. Wilson walked three of the first four batters faced before being relieved by senior Chris Ott. Catcher Matt Rice singled to score two runs for WKU, while Gaynor scored an unearned run on a fielding error by the Great Danes. Rice scored on a groundout by Kes Carter before Ott got Matt Payton to fly out to end the inning.

UAlbany (0-1) managed three hits in the game. Shortstop Sean Donovan recorded a double in his first at bat, while senior left fielder Gary Pitcheralle drove a triple to left centerfield in the third inning. Senior outfielder Dave West also added a single for the Great Danes. Right hander Matt Ridings went six innings on the mound for WKU (2-1), striking out eight and allowing UAlbany’s three hits.