WKU Baseball Weekend Recap: Hilltoppers split opening weekend

The WKU baseball squad opened their 2015 season with a split weekend at the Caravelle Resort Tournament, and looked really good in stretches but opened the season much like they closed 2014 – but to much stiffer competition.

In the opening 18 outs, things were going real well for the Hilltoppers. They struck first by scoring two runs in the opening inning of the season, thanks to an RBI double from

that scored

Cody Wofford

, and then

singled Church home in the following at bat. Maryland would cut it to 2-1 in the top of the second but the Tops would extended it back to a two-run game in the bottom of the third, when Church flew out to right field, scoring

That’d be all that the Tops would be able to push across the plate, as Terps’ all-american starter Mike Shawaryn and relief pitcher Brian Shaffer combined to shut down 19 consecutive batters – from the third to ninth – allowing only a two-out two-bagger from Diedrick. The top-25 Terps would pull out the win sending the Tops to a losing start on the year.

The Tops garnered their first win of the season against the host Chanticleers following a 9-4 win, thanks to three home runs – one from Diedrick, Wofford and

each – and behind the arm of Bowling Green’s own

who tossed five innings (83 pitches), and allowed just one run on four hits. Wofford recorded three RBI, two of which coming on his home run in the sixth, and the Tops posted a crooked number in three of their four scoring innings. The Tops also showed their pitching depth, by using six pitchers after Bartley’s day was done, allowing just four hits and one run.

The Tops’ were scheduled to play Canisius yesterday, but the game was cancelled due to not only un-favorable projected temperatures, but I’m sure the Tops wanted to get back to Bowling Green before the winter storm hit. WKU opens up their 2015 home slate with a three-game series against Evansville this weekend.

What first impressions (good or bad) stand out for you after the first three games to the WKU baseball year? Let us know in a comment below or on twitter @WaveTheRedTowel.