March 29, 2008 | Game One Box | Game Two Box

WKU Uses Homers, Strong Pitching to Sweep Doubleheader

    Bowling Green, Ky. -- Western Kentucky University hit four home runs in game one and got a strong pitching performance from Matt Ridings in game two in a doubleheader sweep of Youngstown State on Saturday.
    The Hilltoppers improved to 13-10 entering Sunday's 2 p.m. contest while the Penguins dropped to 5-14.
    WKU erupted for 20 runs on 18 hits in game one, but YSU starter Chuck Schiffhauer gave the Penguins a chance in the nightcap. He allowed only three earned runs on nine hits and struck out six in seven innings in a losing effort.
    In game two, the Hilltoppers scored a run in the second and went up 4-0 after a three-run fifth.
    Josh Page's solo homer in the sixth cut the margin to three, but the Hilltoppers equaled that in the bottom of the inning to keep the lead at 5-1.
    The Penguins loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth but were only able to get one run across. Sean Lucas singled a run home to make the score 5-2, but reliever Garrie Kreuger came in to get a strike out and inning-ending double play.
    "Every time Schiff comes out he gives us everything he has, and he gave us seven strong innings tonight," head coach Rich Pasquale. "We had our shot in the eighth but could only get one across."
    "We have to come out tomorrow and get a win. You have to give credit to the Hilltoppers. They come to play hard, and they come to swing it."
    In game one, the Penguins led 1-0 after the top of the second, but the Hilltoppers plated five runs with two outs in the bottom of the inning to take a four-run advantage. After YSU scored twice in the top of the third to cut the lead to two, WKU answered with six runs in its half of the third, four in the fourth and two more in the fifth. The Hilltoppers had a grand slam in both the third and fourth innings.
    YSU scored seven runs in the ninth, sending 13 men to the plate thanks to five walks and three hit batters.