UAlbany Baseball Drops Both Ends of A Doubleheader at Western Kentucky

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Bowling Green, Ky. – Senior left fielder Matt Hightower recorded 11 RBI over the course of two games to lead Western Kentucky to a sweep of UAlbany in non-conference baseball action at Nick Denes Field on Sunday. The Hilltoppers posted a 17-6 win in the first game and defeated the Great Danes 13-3 in the series finale. The doubleheader was rescheduled after inclement weather on Saturday, and the second game was shortened to five innings due to time constraints.

UAlbany got on the scoreboard first in the opener, with Gary Pitcheralle knocking a lead-off double to left center. Shortstop Sean Donovan singled to left field to advance Pitcheralle, who scored on Brendan Rowland’s sacrifice fly during the next at bat. WKU responded with a single run in the bottom of the first inning, as right fielder Chad Cregar drove an RBI single to right field to score Hightower, who reached on a base hit to center.

The Hilltoppers added two runs in the second before exploding for seven in the third. Hightower recorded two of his game-high seven RBI with a double down the right field line, sending Matt Payton and J.B. Paxson home. Shortstop Terrence Dayleg knocked a double to score Hightower, and was driven across the plate on a two-run homer by Cregar.

UAlbany scored two runs in the top of the fourth. Catcher Ryan Gugel doubled to centerfield and scored on a wild pitch. First baseman Pete Eichner recorded his first home run of the season during his at bat before pitcher Kes Carter induced a pop out to end the inning. After WKU responded with two more runs in the bottom half of the frame, the Great Danes scored a single run in the top off the fifth to pull within 12-4. Pitcheralle, who recorded his second hit of the game with a single, was driven home on an RBI ground out by Rowland.

The Hilltoppers added a single run in the fifth with a solo home run by Cregar, and scored four additional runs in the bottom of the sixth frame. Hightower continued his strong offensive output with a grand slam over the right field wall, clearing the bases. UAlbany attempted a rally in the top half of the seventh, scoring two runs on RBI singles by Donovan and Rowland. WKU reliever Bryce Jenney recorded two of his four strikeouts in the inning to wrap up the win for the Hilltoppers.

Lefty Cory Warrings earned the loss in 2.2 innings of work. Reliever Sean Gregory pitched the final 3.1 innings for the Great Danes, striking out one. Carter earned his first win of the season on the mound for WKU, fanning five over four frames. Southpaw Garrie Krueger tossed one inning of middle relief, striking out two before Jenney took over to close out the game.

UAlbany (0-4) scored the first two runs of the second game. Donovan scored on a fielder’s choice by Dave West before Eichner drove an RBI single to center to score Rowland. The Hilltopppers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame when third baseman Wade Gaynor singled threw the right side and advanced two bases on throwing errors by the Great Danes. Cregar and Dayleg scored on the play.

The teams exchanged home runs in the third to keep the score knotted at 3-3. UAlbany sophomore Kyle Crean drive his first homer of the season to right center field to lead off the frame. WKU’s Jake Wells countered with a home run of his own to lead off the Hilltoppers’ half of the inning. WKU was able to hold the Great Danes off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, but scored four runs in the fourth and six in the fifth frame before the game was called. Hightower blasted his second grand slam of the day in the bottom of the fifth to seal the series sweep for Western Kentucky.

Freshman Austin Chase earned his first start on the mound for UAlbany, fanning three in three innings of work. Dave Noble and Jeff Kaier each tossed one inning for the Great Danes. Lefty Evan Teague earned the win for WKU, coming in to relieve starter Tyler Gilliland, who fanned two in three innings of work.