Sports Headlines

Hodgins’ 11th-Inning Singles Lifts Hilltoppers to 8-7Victory, Series Win over UALR

Posted: 9:02 PM Apr 1, 2012
Reporter: Melissa Anderson - WKU Athletic Media Relations

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Western Kentucky University shortstop Steve Hodgins’ RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted the Hilltoppers to an 8-7 series-clinching victory over Arkansans-Little Rock on Sunday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.

Hodgins singled with the bases-loaded to drive home pinch runner Jordan Cessna to give WKU (12-16, 4-5 Sun Belt Conference) its first league series win this season. Right fielder Ryan Hutchison reached on an error to start the inning and a throwing error by UALR allowed Cessna to advance to third after replacing Hutchison.

WKU rallied with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score at 7-7 after UALR (16-12, 3-6) led 7-3 after 5-1/2 innings. The WKU offense tallied 17 hits on the afternoon, the most in an SBC game this season.

Junior reliever Taylor Haydel (2-2) picked up the win for the Hilltoppers after facing the minimum in four innings of relief. Haydel shutout the Trojans on one hit, struck out four and did not issue a walk.

“I don’t know what else to say about what he is doing for us,” WKU coach Matt Myers said. “It is unbelievable”

UALR right-hander Bubba Cooper (2-2) allowed one unearned run on three hits with three walks and one strikeout over the final 2-1/3 innings.

Hilltoppers third baseman Casey Dykes went 5-for-6 on the afternoon with a pair of RBIs, the first five-hit game of his career. Left fielder David Simmons tallied a career-high three hits with three walks while Hutchison, Hodgins and designated hitter Blake Crabtree each had a pair of hits.

“Casey Dykes- the player of the weekend for us offensively,” Myers said. “Five hits today and his at bats all weekend have been great.”

Six different WKU hitters drove in runs with Hutchison, Hodgins, second baseman Ivan Hartle, center fielder Jared Andreoli and pinch hitter Adam Lavelle each tallying an RBI.

The Trojans took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning behind a two-run single by second baseman Chris Burk and an RBI single by third baseman Nick Rountree.

WKU got a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Hodgins grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to send home Hutchison and make the score 3-1.

UALR added two more runs in top of the fifth to extend its advantage to 5-1. An RBI double by catcher Blake Johnson drove in the first run followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of designated hitter Kaleb Jobe.

RBI doubles by Dykes and Hutchison in the bottom of the fifth cut the Trojans’ lead to 5-3. In the top of the sixth inning, a two-run home run by Rountree put UALR back in front 7-3.

The Hilltoppers sent eight batters to the plate in a four-run bottom of the sixth inning that tied the game at 7-7. WKU loaded the bases with no outs in the frame before a sacrifice fly by Lavelle got the scoring started. An RBI single by Hartle and sacrifice fly by Andreoli followed before Dykes’ knotted the score with a run-scoring single up the middle.

WKU starter Ian Tompkins allowed three runs despite not giving up a hit with five walks and three strikeouts in 1-2/3 innings. Sophomore Austin Clay worked 2-1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Tompkins with three hits and a strikeout. Freshman Brennan Pearson worked two innings, giving up four runs with a walk and a strikeout. Tate Glasscock worked a scoreless inning.

UALR right-hander Ethan Schlechte gave up three runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

The Hilltoppers begin a stretch of nine straight road games Tuesday with a 5 p.m. matchup at Louisville. WKU then travels to Lafayette, Louisiana for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series April 6-8