Series Preview: Tops vs. UNC-Ashville
Photo courtesy of the Bowling Green Daily News
I can’t remember the last time I was this excited for the weekend. I also can’t remember the last time the Hill had such a busy weekend.
Today begins a monster weekend on WKU’s campus – a softball tournament stretching from today to Sunday, a women’s and men’s double header vs. ULM, and our preview here, the baseball Tops host UNC Ashville for a three game set.
The Tops and Bulldogs have never faced each other, so this will be a small moment of history. Although, they do have one major thing in common – Matt Myers. Myers got his first ever head coaching position with the Dogs in 2001, and was named the 2003 Big South Coach of the Year during his tenure.
Myers, now in his third year at the helm of WKU, looks to lead his current team over his former one, and forget the four-run loss this past mid-week against Belmont, in which a four-run 8th inning for the Bruins gave them the advantage.
Through four games, the 2-2 Hilltoppers have a team batting average of .211, while the pitching staff has garnered an ERA of just over 3.00. (WKU pitchers are allowing opponents to hit .225.)
While it’s been a small sample size, it looks like the offense has finally clicked, an area on the team which has struggled in the past. The Tops posted 12 total runs in last Sunday’s double-header sweep over Southern Illinois (6 runs in each game), and have three guys hitting over .360 right now, with Thomas Peter leading the way, hitting over .400. Newcomers Ryan Church and Cody Wofford have made an immediate impact, withe Church being one of those .360+ (.375) guys, along with one long ball and two RBI, as well as two homers for Wofford, but he is 3-18, so in this early going, he’s a lot of power, or a lot of nothing.
Ashville has only played a single game, as winter weather cancelled their what would have been opening series last weekend. The Dogs were able to beat UNC Greensboro this past week by a 7-4 score, thanks in part to a 5-run 6th inning, and three RBI from left fielder Erik Connolly.
The Hilltoppers will send their same rotation from last weekend out, with Justin Hageman starting tonight, Austin Clay tomorrow, and Jake Thompson for the conclusion on Sunday. The Bulldogs will send three right-handed throwers to the bump, starting with Corey Randall (4-4, 4..40 ERA in 2013), Ethan Steible on Saturday (0-2, 16.68 ERA in ’13) and Dean Roland to face Thompson on Sunday (2-7, 4.08 ERA in 2013). UNC-A went 16-35 last year, and only won four away games in 23 tries, and the Toppers will be looking to extend those road woes this weekend.
The Bulldogs bats certainly came alive in their opener, but the Tops have in-season pitching experience on the mound, and an offense that is upset with only a three-run output their last time out, so it should be a fun series to watch. If you’re a Hilltopper fan.
First pitches are scheduled for 3 p.m. today, 2 p.m. tomorrow, and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Stand up and cheers, and hope to see some of you at the Nick.