WKU Baseball: Tops Host ‘Neers For Weekend Showdown at The Nick
Following a heartbreaking loss in the midweek to Kentucky (a game I’ll forever contend the Tops had no business losing), it’s time for the…
Following a heartbreaking loss in the midweek to Kentucky (a game I’ll forever contend the Tops had no business losing), it’s time for the Toppers baseball squad to take the diamond again, this time welcoming West Virginia in the program’s first ever game/series against a Big 12 opponent.
Series Info
Date: March 2–4
Location: Nick Denes Field | Bowling Green, Ky.
TV: CUSA.tv ($)
The Tops enter this weekend with a 5–3 overall record, and their loss to Kentucky saw them snap a four-game winning streak after they swept Northern Illinois a weekend ago.
While the Tops don’t boast a .300 hitter offensively, they do have three guys hovering around that mark with Jacob Rhinesmith (.294), Dillon Nelson (.276) and Chase Larsen (.273) who could see them reach that plateau with a solid weekend.
For West Virginia, it’s been a bumpy road to begin the season. They dropped two of three in the season opening series against Jacksonville and dropped three of four games in last weekend’s Brittain Resorts Invitational in South Carolina (the lone win came against Illinois while they dropped decisions against VCU [twice] and Costal Carolina).
It doesn’t appear that offense is the issue for the Mountaineers — they boast a trio of .300+ hitters in Kevin Brophy (.348), Jimmy Galusky and Brandon White (.333).
Brophy also has five home runs in six games and 10 RBI, far and away team-bests.
It’s been pitching woes for WV, who have a team ERA of 4.57 and have allowed 62 hits and 31 earned runs (40 total runs, which means the defense hasn’t been helping them out either).
Probable Starting Rotation
Friday: LHP Ryan Thurston (1–1, 2.38) vs. RHP B.J. Myers (0–0, 2.53)
Saturday: RHP Colby Taylor (1–0, 0.00) vs. RHP Alek Manoah (0–2, 5.62)
Sunday: TBA vs. RHP Kade Strowd (0–1, 3.24)
If you wanna see a bit of history on the Hill this weekend, head on out to the Hill, especially with how well the Tops have begun their season. How they bounce back after that disappointing loss on Tuesday will be the thing to watch for this weekend with another matchup against a big-name opponent.